CHAPTER XXI
THE SEARCH
It was only a few feet that Robert fell, for the barn was low and the distance between the partitions was slight; but as the young soldier struck the floor beneath him, his hat was flung far from him and for an instant he was almost stunned. A silence had greeted his unexpected appearance, but it was quickly broken when Claudius Brown with a shout called to his men: "There's the fellow himself! Don't let him get away! Get him! Get him!"
At the words Robert sprang to his feet and seizing the first of the men that rushed upon him, and exerting all his strength, he flung him hard against the side of the barn, where the man fell and did not rise. Desperately he struck the next man to advance upon him, but almost before he was aware of what was being done, the others had fallen upon him and he was borne to the floor, where he was helpless in the grasp of his captors.
"Had enough, young man?" shouted Clau-
