Page:Tomlinson--The rider of the black horse.djvu/150

now that he found himself in a place of comparative security, and a part of his journey accomplished, the natural reaction had come. There were misgivings in his mind, too, as he thought of his ride on the morrow, for he understood that he was to go on as far as Albany at least; but there still was one source of consolation, in that no perils were likely to be faced between Fort Montgomery and the town for which he was bound. Almost all the danger was in the region below the forts undoubtedly, and it would be some time, he assured himself, before he would return. Meanwhile he must not meet trouble more than half way, and he resolutely strove to banish from his mind the fears that beset him, due doubtless in large measure to his own weariness. A good rest would restore his hopefulness and courage, he tried to assure himself; but his meditations were interrupted by the approach of Joseph Nott, whom at first he had failed to recognize in the dim light. The bearing of the young soldier had entirely changed, and Robert at once became deeply interested in the report of his interview with his father.