Page:Tomlinson--The rider of the black horse.djvu/86

70 tion appeared to Robert to be unsatisfactory, but he lost no time in deliberation. The cool night air fanned his face, the grim outlines of the great trees loomed up on either side, the sounds of Nero's footfalls became monotonous, and still Robert sped on and on.

Suddenly, directly at his left, he perceived a rude path, or road, that led back apparently among the hills. Acting upon the impulse that seized him, Robert turned into the new way, determined to follow it as being, perhaps, safer than the one over which he was now fleeing. He was tempted to remain in hiding for a time and ascertain if he was being followed; but even that temptation was resisted when he thought of the letter in his possession and the peril from which he had fled, but from which he was by no means assured that he had as yet entirely escaped. He did, however, permit his well-nigh exhausted horse to stop for rest, and when he resumed his flight it was at a much slower pace than he had been following. He could see, also, that this road led around through a winding valley and was apparently frequently used, but he had no conception as to where it led. It was taking him back from the river, and in the sense of increased secur-