Page:Tomlinson--The rider of the black horse.djvu/79



pathway that led to the road below was not clearly defined in the dim light, and stones and occasional trunks of fallen trees obstructed it somewhat; but in the great fear that now possessed the heart of Robert Dorlon he gave slight heed to any of these things. His confidence in the ability of his horse to pick his way was stronger than in his own, so, although he urged Nero to his best endeavors, he left the bridle loose.

Behind him the roar of Josh and the startled shout of Brown could no longer be heard. but the silence was no evidence of his security. There might be a half dozen shorter ways to the road he was seeking; men might have been stationed as guards at various places along the pathway; the band might still be waiting at the place where the path turned into the roadway. All these and various other suggestions occurred to the mind of the fleeing young soldier, but the one supreme purpose in his thoughts at the time was to escape from