CHAPTER XVII
A PLACE OF REFUGE
The two men stared blankly at each other for an instant, and then the landlord, who apparently was the first to recover from his astonishment, said in a whisper, "Come on! We 'll go out to the barn! Come!"
Instantly Robert followed him, and as they started from the house they glanced about them in every direction, but not a glimpse could they obtain of the missing man. Neither had halted to continue the search, and as they entered the barn together a low exclamation of pleasure escaped Robert's lips, for there in the rude stalls before him was his own horse and also those of the recent visitors at the tavern.
"Take all three!" said Jacob quickly. "Take 'em, every one!"
"I don't want to leave you here alone"—began Robert.
"Never ye mind me, as I told ye before! Take the horses and get out; and the sooner the better for me an' you, too!"
Robert hastily complied with the demand, for Russell and his companion might at any moment return now, and he fully understood what such a return would imply. A rope was passed through the bridles of the two horses when they had been withdrawn from their stalls, and then Robert with the end of the rope in his hand leaped quickly upon the back of Nero.
"Get right out o' here!" exclaimed Jacob, as he struck the rear horses when they passed out from the door.
The horses reared for a moment, but as Nero at once began to run they both responded to the pull upon them, and in a brief time were speeding down the road and soon had turned the bend, when the tavern and Jacob, who had remained standing upon the piazza watching the departure of his recent guest, could no longer be seen.
The night would soon be at hand, and with the oncoming darkness Robert was aware that both his own peril and his chance of escaping were increased. The shadows already were lengthening and the western sky had the deeper glow which indicated that the darkness would not long be delayed. He held his horse to the swift pace at which he was moving, and was rejoiced to perceive that the other horses were following closely and without any apparent effort. Three miles had been covered before he stopped and permitted the wearied beasts to rest. Not a man had been seen since he had departed from Jacob Gunning's tavern, and though he had maintained a careful outlook, not a sign of peril had been discovered.
A feeling of relief swept over him, and as he started on once more, taking the road that led to the right, in the fork where he had halted, he even began to feel elated. He had escaped his pursuers, and by seizing their horses had deprived them of the means of following him. It was not likely that any of the band of Claudius Brown were in advance of him, for doubtless Russell and his huge comrade had been in the lead of others. What a commotion he could create in the American camp if by any chance he should succeed in returning safely not only with the letter from General Clinton but also with two horses! And there was a need of horses, too, amongst the troops.
His heart was heavy, however, when he thought of Jacob. He had been left to face the answer of Russell and Josh alone. Then his thoughts turned to the fate of Hannah Nott. What had become of her and her mother? The ruins of the home were not assuring, for, if Mr. Nott and the sons had been unable to prevent that calamity, was it probable that they had been any more successful in driving away the members of the marauding band? Then, too, there was Dirck Rykman and the report of his arrest for leading a band of Tories. Could it be possible that the sturdy young Dutchman had been false to his promises? If he had, then what might befall his little family would not be unlike that which the Notts had been compelled to suffer, though whatever might be done would be done by the men whose sympathies were on the side opposed to those who had harmed the Notts. But suffering was suffering whatever its source might be, and Robert Dorlon was seriously troubled as he rode forward, moving more slowly now that the immediate danger which he most feared, apparently no longer threatened him.
These thoughts were in his mind as he rode slowly up the long hill. When he came to the summit he could see the valley in the dim light stretching away before him, and for a moment his anxiety returned. He could perceive a rude path or roadway leading into the woods by his side, and suddenly he resolved to follow it. He was in need of rest himself, and his horse was even more wearied than he. In the early light of the morning he would be able to resume his journey, and would have less to fear because he would be in better condition, he assured himself, and resolutely he at once acted upon the impulse.
He had advanced not more than two hundred yards into the woods when he perceived the outlines of a rude building before him, and instantly he halted and peered intently at the structure. Not a light was to be seen near or within it, and not a sound broke in upon the stillness of the summer night. Dismounting, he tied Nero's bridle to the projecting limb of a tree and cautiously advanced on foot, but he had not gone far before he was convinced that the building was unoccupied, and yet it seemed strange to him that such a structure should be found in the woods.
More boldly he advanced now, and entering through the open doorway he discovered that there were two bunks on one side of the room, but he was not able to see that they had been used recently. He concluded that the building had been erected to serve as a shelter for some one who probably had been about to clear the land and build a home on the spot, but like so many others had been compelled to abandon the project when the war had broken out.
With a lighter heart Robert hastened back to the spot where he had left the horses, and soon returned with them to the building. It was but the work of a minute to remove the saddles and tether the animals, and as soon as this had been accomplished he entered the hut and threw himself into one of the bunks and in a brief time was sleeping soundly.
How long he had been asleep he did not know, but he was aroused by a whinny of one of the horses. The call was repeated, but in lower tones, and to Robert it seemed as if it was an evidence that the animal had recognized the approach of some one he knew. Springing from his bunk and thoroughly awake by this time, Robert grasped his pistol and peered out into the night. The whinny had not been repeated and silence was over all. The moon had long since disappeared and the gloom of the woods was unbroken even by any flickering shadows.
For several minutes Robert stood near the doorway listening intently and peering out into the woods; but still not satisfied when he had not discovered anything to increase his alarm, he stepped forth into the darkness and cautiously approached the place where he had left the horses.
To his surprise he perceived that one of them was no longer there, though the other two were apparently safe when he examined their straps, as he speedily did. Convinced that the other horse must in some way have broken loose, and that it was by him that the low whinny he had heard had been given, he began at once to search for the missing animal. He decided to move in a circle about the place, and somewhere within it he would doubtless find him.
He had completed the semi-circle and was in the rough path or roadway when he was startled to perceive the horse before him, but his consternation was great when he saw that a man was holding him, standing directly in front of the steed and grasping both sides of the bits. The man's face was turned in the direction where the other two horses were, and it was apparent from his attitude that he was awaiting a signal or the appearance of some one from that direction.
For a moment Robert was too startled by the unexpected sight to move from the place where he himself was standing, but quickly he recovered and stepped hastily back among the trees, still peering at the man. His first impulse to run to the place where the other two horses had been left he restrained, as he was convinced that his better course was to remain where he then was. If there was an- other member of the party, as apparently there was, then doubtless the man would come to the place where his companion was awaiting him.
Robert speedily discovered that his conjecture was correct, for in a brief time he perceived a man approaching leading both horses and holding each by the bit as he walked between their heads.
As he drew near Robert could hear him as he said, "I 've got 'em both, Joe."
"Did the fellow stir?" inquired the man who had been addressed as "Joe."
"I don't know; I did n't look this time. He was making noise enough when I looked into the hut before. Come on now."
"I don't just like it. We don't know who the fellow is. He may be a good friend to us for all that we know, and if he should turn out to be, why, we might be doing the very worst thing in taking these horses. We ought to know more about it."
"I tell you I know this horse. I 've seen Josh on it too many times to forget it."
"Josh may be here himself for all that we know."
"Then there's all the more reason for us to get out of this. If there really has been any mistake, why, it can be set right; and if there has n't, we 'll be mighty glad of the night's work. Come on!"
The two men began to move over the pathway toward the road, leading the three horses with them, and almost mechanically Robert began to follow them, darting swiftly from tree to tree and keeping well back from the path, though he did not lose sight of the men. He was in a whirl of excitement, for he fancied that he had recognized one of the men; but to expose himself suddenly would be likely to bring upon him a shot, as doubtless both men were prepared for quick action.
He waited until they were within twenty-five yards of the place where the pathway joined the road, and then, darting quickly ahead, he gained a shelter behind a huge tree, from which he peered out at the men, who were now almost upon him.
"Halt! Stop a minute," he called in a low voice.
At the unexpected summons both men halted abruptly and, drawing their pistols, stood gazing eagerly all about them. It had been impossible to determine from just what direction the hail had come, and the alarm and consternation were natural. They did not know whether to advance or to go back, and perhaps under other circumstances their predicament might have made Robert laugh.
But he was in nowise inclined now to be light-hearted, for the issue was uncertain, and he had much to lose if his surmise should not prove to be correct.
"Is one of you Joseph Nott?" he inquired, after the brief silence.
"Who are you?" demanded the man in true Yankee fashion, as both faced the direction from which the question had been heard.
"That's not answering my question," responded Robert. "I'm a good friend of his, and if he is there everything will be all right. Here! Keep them covered with your guns, men," he added, as if he was addressing an imaginary company. "Don't let them move till my question is answered!"
"What if Joe Nott is here?" demanded the other man.
"Then there 'll be no trouble."
"What do you want of him?" It was evident that Robert's trick was working well, and that in their uncertainty the two men dared not move, being ignorant of how many rifles might be aimed at them from the surrounding darkness.
"It 'll be time enough to tell when I know he's there."
"Come out and see for yourself."
"All right!" responded Robert instantly, deciding that boldness might be his very best protection. "Keep them covered," he called to his imaginary troops, "and if either tries to get away, shoot him!"
Stepping out into the pathway, Robert approached the two men and instantly perceived that one of them was indeed Joseph Nott, Hannah's brother.
"You 're Joe Nott all right enough," he said quietly. "You know who I am?"
"Yes. You 're Robert Dorlon," responded the young man, after he had peered into the face of the man before him.
"Well, then, what are you doing with my horses?" demanded Robert.
"Your horses ? Are they yours?"
"Yes, or at least one of them is, and the other two are more mine than yours. Have you horses here?"
"Yes, back near the road. What are you doing here? Where are your men?"
"I have n't any men. I'm all alone."
"What!" exclaimed Joseph. And then he laughed heartily as he said, "It's a good one on us. We 'll never hear the last of it. But come along and we 'll hear the rest of it. You 're going on now, are n't you?"