Page:Tomlinson--The rider of the black horse.djvu/84

68 "Russell's letter has been taken, and the man has gone up the road. Let me pass. I can get him yet!"

"Who are you?" demanded the man dubiously.

"Don't stop me!" demanded Robert in desperation. "Claud will never forgive you! He wants that man, I tell you!"

"How do I know that you are not the man himself?"

There was a momentary hesitation, and Robert was eager to follow up his brief advantage. In a moment the men from the hut might appear and there would be no escape from his predicament.

Bending lower, he whispered in the man's ear: "It's all right, I tell you! Don't keep me a minute. 'The Asia' will prove it to you, if you 'll take the trouble to ask."

The man's hand dropped from the bridle, and instantly Robert struck his horse and darted away.

"Hold on there!" called the man who had not before spoken. "That's the fellow we took yesterday. He's Clinton's express! Don't let him get away!"

Robert Dorlon waited to hear no more, and was already speeding up the road. His bold-