Page:Tomlinson--The rider of the black horse.djvu/384

368 to leap upon Russell if he entered; but the man did not come, and the silence outside the building was unbroken. Unable to endure the suspense longer, he peered forth; but as he looked about him he could not see anything of the man whose words he had overheard. Only the tall trees with their sombre shadows were about him. The air was chilly, but Robert was unaware of anything save the unexpected disappearance of Russell.

For a moment he tried to think out clearly what he should do, for he had no thought of abandoning the attempt to follow him. He soon concluded that the man would make for the road and trust to the darkness to protect him. He was by no means assured that he himself could find the road, but instantly decided to make the attempt, and at once started in the direction in which it seemed to him it must lie.

He was rejoiced when in a brief time he came within sight of Martha's house, but had slight fear of being seen, though he passed it at a distance, and then soon found himself in the road he was seeking. There was no question as to the direction Russell must have taken, he hastily concluded, and at once started back in the way from which