CHAPTER VI
INTO THE NIGHT
The pathway that led to the road below was not clearly defined in the dim light, and stones and occasional trunks of fallen trees obstructed it somewhat; but in the great fear that now possessed the heart of Robert Dorlon he gave slight heed to any of these things. His confidence in the ability of his horse to pick his way was stronger than in his own, so, although he urged Nero to his best endeavors, he left the bridle loose.
Behind him the roar of Josh and the startled shout of Brown could no longer be heard. but the silence was no evidence of his security. There might be a half dozen shorter ways to the road he was seeking; men might have been stationed as guards at various places along the pathway; the band might still be waiting at the place where the path turned into the roadway. All these and various other suggestions occurred to the mind of the fleeing young soldier, but the one supreme purpose in his thoughts at the time was to escape from the men he had left behind him at the hut. And Nero was doing his very best to aid him.
Leaping over the obstacles before him, occasionally swerving from the direct course, and yet bounding down the hillside, the sure-footed beast kept on his way. Leaning upon his horse's neck and occasionally glancing behind him to make sure that his enemies were not close in pursuit, Robert drew near to the place where he would turn into the road. Suddenly he heard from the hillside in his rear the sound of two shots fired in rapid succession. He quickly sat erect and peered keenly all about him. It was evident at once that he had not been the target, for the sounds indicated that the pistols had been discharged at a considerable distance from where he then was. There was but one conclusion to be formed, and that was that a signal of some kind had been given, and in that event it was plain to him that men must be in waiting somewhere near. The most natural place would be at the junction of the path and the road, and he instantly checked the speed of his horse while he endeavored to decide what was best for him to do. He did not know whether or not Brown and Russell had horses at their command. Russell had ridden Nero, and he at least was not likely to have any other, unless by some chance the Thirteen might keep horses for their use near their hiding-place on the hillside. There was no way of discovering this except by waiting, and the excited young soldier had no mind for that.
Leaving Nero in the rear of a huge tree a few yards back from the path, Robert hastily ran a little farther into the woods, striving to discover if it was possible for him to gain the road in that direction and enter it at a point above that where the waiting guard might have been stationed. He soon came to the border of a deep ravine and saw that his progress was checked in that direction. He recalled the fact also that by the side of the road below a broad, swift stream of water was flowing, and he was by no means confident that he could safely cross it. He might be taken while he was striving to cross, and the venture was too perilous to be seriously considered. At the place where the path joined the road the stream had been very narrow, and a man might easily step across. If it were light now and he had time to look about, a way of escape might be discovered; but the need of haste was great, and in his excitement Robert ran swiftly back to the place where he had left his trusty horse, and taking him by the bridle, began to lead him down the pathway. The road could not be many yards distant, he assured himself, and he would look keenly about him as he advanced cautiously, Nero's footfalls being almost as silent as his own.
He drew back hastily among the trees when he was convinced that he heard the sound of men coming up the pathway before him. Some high bushes were growing close to the path, and taking his stand behind these he waited for the men to come near. He was in an agony of fear that he would be discovered. The slightest sound on the part of Nero would be sufficient to disclose his presence. He gently rubbed the horse's nose, at the same time peering out for the coming of the men. Nor had he long to wait, for in a brief time he perceived three men coming swiftly up the pathway, every one crouching low and holding a gun in his hands.
"I tell you," one of them was saying in a low voice, "we 're all wrong. What Claud meant was for us to stay and wait for him to come."
"No such thing," said another. "The signal was for us to stay where we were and be on the lookout."
"He wanted us to come up to the shanty. That's what he wanted," said the third man.
Robert was listening intently, hut either nothing more was said, or he was not able to hear it. At all events the men passed on, and then instantly the young soldier, trembling with excitement, led his horse once more out into the path and rapidly proceeded on his way to the road below.
He had not gone far before he perceived the place he was seeking, but his fears redoubled when he spied two armed men standing in the roadway directly in front of the entrance to the path. It was too late to stop, for he was aware that he himself had been seen; and it was impossible to turn back, for more of his enemies were there than were before him. Every avenue of escape seemed to be closed, and in sheer desperation Robert leaped upon the back of his horse and advanced. He could see that the men stepped forward to dispute his coming. It seemed to him almost as if he was clutched already by the throat, so difficult was his breathing.
"What's wrong?" demanded one of the men sharply, as he approached the horse's head.
"Everything is wrong," replied Robert. "Russell's letter has been taken, and the man has gone up the road. Let me pass. I can get him yet!"
"Who are you?" demanded the man dubiously.
"Don't stop me!" demanded Robert in desperation. "Claud will never forgive you! He wants that man, I tell you!"
"How do I know that you are not the man himself?"
There was a momentary hesitation, and Robert was eager to follow up his brief advantage. In a moment the men from the hut might appear and there would be no escape from his predicament.
Bending lower, he whispered in the man's ear: "It's all right, I tell you! Don't keep me a minute. 'The Asia' will prove it to you, if you 'll take the trouble to ask."
The man's hand dropped from the bridle, and instantly Robert struck his horse and darted away.
"Hold on there!" called the man who had not before spoken. "That's the fellow we took yesterday. He's Clinton's express! Don't let him get away!"
Robert Dorlon waited to hear no more, and was already speeding up the road. His boldness and quick wit had availed for the moment, but he was still in danger. Even then a wild shout arose behind him, and he knew that his escape was known. If the band had horses near, then his chances of final escape were dubious, for Nero's weakness was apparent in every movement the faithful animal was making. The issue was too great, however, for even mercy to be considered now, and Robert urged his horse forward with ever-increasing speed. He could feel the heaving sides beneath him and hear the painful breathing as his horse responded to his appeals.
The one great fear in Robert's heart now was of pursuit by horsemen. If the morning would only come, he might be safe, for he well knew that the Thirteen belonged to the class whose work was done for the most part in the darkness. But the stretch of dull sky was unbroken by any promise of the coming dawn. He must still urge Nero forward, he assured himself, and if the faithful animal gave out, then he must trust to his own efforts on foot.
Ten minutes more had elapsed and still no sound of pursuit had been heard. Either the band had had no horses near, or they had not dared to attempt to follow him. Either solution 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 security 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 hands. It was too dark to enable him to see the face of either, but the presence and attitude were unmistakable.
"Stop right where you are! Who are you, and what do you mean by disturbing us at this time of night?" demanded the younger woman.
"I beg your pardon. I did not see—I did not know there was a house here. This dog came out where my horse fell down, and I drove him off."
"Your horse fell down? Where is it now?"
"Out in the road."
"A likely story! You would n't leave it this way to come here."
"I beg your pardon. I must go back for it," said Robert, hastily turning about as he spoke.
"Not yet!" said the girl sharply. "Are you alone?"
"I am, madam."
"Where are you going?"
"That's a bit uncertain. Just now I'm going back to look after my horse;" and Robert once more turned away.
"Are you coming back here?"
"I do not expect to."
"Is your horse injured?"
"I am afraid he has broken his leg."
"It's a shame how some men ride! They have no more mercy than the Thirteen!" said the young woman, whom Robert now perceived to be a girl no older than himself.
The reference to the Thirteen, however, instantly caused him to stop, and he said sharply: "Do you know the Thirteen?"
"To our sorrow."
"To my sorrow I, too, know them. I have just escaped from their hands."
"Are you a soldier?" said the elder woman in a low voice.
"I am, madam."
"Where do you belong?" demanded the girl sharply.
"Not anywhere hereabouts, nor do I want to stay here. If my horse is not too tired to carry me, I 'll be gone soon."
"Did you say your horse had broken his leg?" inquired the girl.
"I said I was afraid he had."
There was a low and hasty conversation between the two women, and then the older one said, "You surely need a lantern. Will you take ours?"
"I thank you, madam."
"We will go with you; 't is but a step;" and despite Robert's protest, the two women and the dog, the elder woman carrying a lantern in her hands and the younger still holding her gun, at once started with him across the field by which he had approached.