Page:Tomlinson--The rider of the black horse.djvu/87

Rh ity which the conviction afforded he was for the time well content.

He was passing down a sloping hillside now, and was suddenly startled by the barking of a huge dog that came bounding across a field directly toward him. His horse also was startled, and stumbled and fell, and in a moment Robert saw that he was not able to rise. Whether the faithful animal had broken a bone, or was too exhausted to stand, Robert had no opportunity to ascertain, for with a growl the dog was now coming near. The young soldier looked about for some means of defense, and spied a sledge near him, from which he hastily tore one of the posts. It afforded him an excellent weapon, and lifting it in the air, he started directly toward the approaching dog. With a snarl, the animal turned and fled, and in his anger Robert swiftly followed until he had crossed the lot where the dog had first appeared, and then he abruptly stopped, as he found himself just in front of a low house of logs which had been concealed by the surrounding trees. But his surprise was increased when he perceived that in the open door two women were standing, and that one of them, whom he took to be the younger, was holding a gun in her