Page:Tomlinson--The rider of the black horse.djvu/46

30 The moon had risen by this time, and above the border of the tall trees that grew close to the roadside was casting its beams over the land until it was almost as light as day about him. For the first time the thought of the folly of an attempt to pursue a man who was mounted on the back of such a horse as Nero swept over him. It was useless, but Robert Dorlon did not feel that he could as yet abandon the attempt, and as soon as he had in a measure recovered from the violence of his exertions he resumed the pursuit, although now he was not running so swiftly as when he had first started. Occasional glimpses of the river were had in the moonlight, and at several places he halted to peer keenly down the banks, hoping and yet not expecting to discover the man in hiding somewhere near. It was not likely, he assured himself, that the man would stop soon, unless he should perceive how nearly winded his horse was; but the brief rest had doubtless prepared Nero for a swift pace, at least for a time.

The first feelings of anger were gone now, and Robert, as he still kept on his way, was striving to think out the plan which Russell would be most likely to adopt. Doubtless he would endeavor to place a good distance be-