Page:Tomlinson--The rider of the black horse.djvu/376

360 "And you can't go on."

"No. I can't go on," said Robert simply.

"Then what are you going to do?" she inquired.

"I—I—don't know," he responded hopelessly. Then rousing himself for the moment, he sat up and said, endeavoring to speak bravely, "I must try to go. I 'll not give up. Besides, I 'll be a trouble to you if I don't go, and if your husband should"—

"Never you mind Tom. I 'll look after him," she said lightly, as she arose and came to him.

Once more she bathed and dressed his aching shoulder, and then, working with great haste as Robert thought, she prepared him some breakfast, of which he was able to eat sparingly. Refreshed by what had been done for him, Robert said hastily, "I 'll go now."

"You can't go. You 're not strong enough."

"But I can't stay," he protested miserably.

"No, you can't stay; that is, you can't stay here. Listen, and I 'll tell you what you 're to do. Two years ago Tom thought he would make some maple sugar." She stopped for a moment, and Robert gazed at