Page:Tomlinson--The rider of the black horse.djvu/69

Rh for if he should stumble or fall in his flight, he would be almost helpless. His first effort must be to free himself from his bonds.

At once he began to strive to withdraw his hands from the strap that held them. Doing his utmost to be quiet as he toiled at the task, he nevertheless exerted himself again and again as he strove to stretch the bands and to pull out his hands. For a long time he apparently made but slight progress. The straps had been wound several times about his wrists, and then had been drawn tightly into a knot. He twisted and strained and pulled, all the time doing his utmost not to arouse either of the men. His face was wet with perspiration, and the muscles in his arms ached from his exertions. He could feel that the skin was broken, and he was aware what it was that was trickling from his fingers' ends. The pain which he was suffering caused him repeatedly to cease his efforts, but every time he resumed his task with a steadily increasing determination. The sugar-house or freedom, failure or success in obeying the orders of his great commander, were the alternatives in his mind, and every particle of will-power that he possessed was summoned to his aid.