"I cannot tell. Some one must have put it there, but who or when, I cannot say." "You said it was missing before you got to Hollow Tree?" "No, sir. I said it was not in the pouch when I looked for it at the request of Mr. Shag; but you must remember I did not see the pouch until after he had examined it, and had had the opportunity to take it out if he had chosen." "Be careful how you make any charges you cannot back up. I must say you are exceedingly outspoken." "I am standing on my own feet, Mr. Warfield, and I am going to tell you just what I believe is the truth. I will know the mystery of that packet of mail before I get through. You seem to forget the attack of the Burrnocks." "On the contrary, I have been thinking of them very much, and this leads me to give you a bit of advice. I advise you to give up this mail route at once. You were too young to have undertaken it." Little Snap looked up with surprise. "I hardly expected that from you, Mr. Warfield." "Excuse me, I was thinking only of your good. Those Burrnocks are desperate men, and I fear it will cost you your life to continue. Perhaps you think you cannot afford to give up so good a job, but you can better spare it than your life." "Our living depends on my work," replied the postboy, with a quivering lip. "More than that, and what I prize infinitely higher, my honor is at stake. If I give up now, it will look as if I was guilty of the charge of taking the mail. I feel it thus my duty to stay where I am, until I have been able not only to prove my innocence but to show up the guilty ones." "You cannot do this alone, and, of course, if those who have put you in this place do not think it prudent to back you up in your rashness, you cannot blame them." Little Snap understood more by this statement than the mere words told, as the speaker intended he should. Drawing his boyish figure to its full height with an air which made the politician start with surprise, if not fear, he said: "Mr. Warfield, I want to know who my friends are, and you and I might as well have an understanding at the outset as later. Of course I am very grateful to you for signing my bond and helping me so far as you have. Now, if you wish to withdraw, I shall have no ill feeling; but you must remember that Mr. Marion Calvert owns the contract for this route, and as long as he has confidence in me to carry the mail I do not expect to give way." Little Snap was bolder in his speech than he might otherwise have been, as he knew that Mr. Warfield was anxious to keep on friendly terms with this Mr. Calvert, who had a strong political backing. Mr. Warfield's reply, which came after a moment's hesitation, was more friendly than he had dared to expect.