Page:Tomlinson--The rider of the black horse.djvu/55



, low conversation among the men followed the discovery of the letter, but Robert was unable to hear any of the words that were spoken. It was not difficult for him, however, to understand what the subject was, and with a feeling of helpless rage he watched them as they conversed. Near him were the sheltering woods, but the few yards that intervened were as impassable as if they had been miles. Even the air of apparent indifference of the two men who were standing guard by his side was maddening, for it only served to emphasize his own hopelessness. His plight was made worse in his own eves because of the loss of his horse, as well as of the letter that had been intrusted to him, and for the time the young soldier was almost in despair. Visions of what might be done with him were flitting through his mind, and the tales that were current of the hardships of the Americans who were prisoners in New York were recalled with startling distinctness.