Page:Tomlinson--The rider of the black horse.djvu/52

36 who without doubt had been summoned by the call of their comrades.

In an instant Robert perceived what it all meant. He had entered into a trap and was caught between the two divisions of the band. He glanced at both sides of the road, but the bushes were thick, and there was little prospect of escape on either side. Suddenly he wheeled about, and lifting the club which he had retained in his flight, he brought it down upon the head of the pursuer directly behind him.

He was dimly aware that the man dropped to the ground, and instantly Robert leaped over his prostrate form, and began to run swiftly back in the opposite direction. Every moment he expected to hear the sound of a shot, but still not a pistol was discharged. It certainly was strange ; but thankful that it was as it was, he exerted himself as he felt positive he never had done before in all the years of his life. It was a race for liberty, if not for life itself, and everything depended upon the speed he could make now, he assured himself.

The same sharp, loud call had been made when he turned that he had heard before, but he was not troubled now, for he was confident that his would-be captors were all