Page:Tomlinson--The rider of the black horse.djvu/76

60 "I have n't any," stammered Robert. "I don't want any for this work."

"Where's the letter ye got from Washington's express?" demanded the man.

"It's safe," replied Robert, his voice trembling slightly as he spoke, in spite of all his efforts to control it.

"Where?"

"I sewed it inside the lining of my—my clothes."

"Well, that's a good place, if ye 'll only keep it there. The other fellow had it there too, but he did n't keep it."

"Shall I start now?" inquired Robert, glancing nervously at the hut and striving to appear calm.

"Here's the letter. Ye'd better take that, I'm thinkin'." He laughed as he held forth the letter, which Robert took and placed inside his shirt.

"I don't know much 'bout ye, Russell," said the man sternly. "But I'm told ye 're all right. If ye hang, we 'll hang together. But Claud Brown is n't quite ready to swing yet. If ye play him false, ye'd better have ev'ry rebel in the colonies after ye!" Robert made no response, but his fears were in no wise allayed by the knowledge that he