"Did I tell you, my son, that you had aroused the snakes of Blazed Acre? You must carry a level head. Most of all, look out for those who profess the greatest friendship. There, that is all I can think of now. I must leave you now, Mary. I will be back again to stop longer next time." Then, in spite of their remonstrances, he went out of the house and was not seen again that night. Though it was late before our hero retired, he was on hand at his usual hour the following morning, and promptly at six he called at the post office for the mail pouch. According to his instructions he was expected to leave Six Roads at six o'clock and arrive at Upper Loop at eleven in the forenoon; returning, he was to start from the last office at two in the afternoon, to get back to the home office at eight in the evening. To do this, he made a shift of horses at Salt Works, with extra animals at the end of the route to go every other day. This was the day for Jack to rest, Little Snap riding a small, brown mare that he had named Fairy. Though not as intelligent as the bay, she was even fleeter of foot and perfectly obedient to the will of her young master. "So you are going to try it again," said the postmaster, as he handed out the pouch. "I advise you to keep your eyes open, and not to lose sight of your business again." Hardly knowing how to take this speech, the postboy nodded in assent, and touching Fairy lightly, dashed down the descending road toward Daring's Diamond. It was a beautiful day in early autumn, and it was but natural a seventeen-year-old boy, full of life and activity, should throw off the cares and anxieties of his position, to break forth into snatches of song. "I never felt so light-hearted in my life!" he cried, "and I hail it as a good omen. I can't think that you and I, Fairy, will find any such hornets' nest to come through as Jack and I did yesterday." Thus, with a cheerfulness which puzzled those who knew of his adventures the previous day, Little Snap kept on without interruption, until he was about halfway between Hollow Tree and Greenbrier, when he was surprised to see Tag Raggles spring from the bushes by the wayside into his path. "I want to speak to you, mister," she said. "Well," said the postboy, reining up Fairy, and waiting for the elfin-like girl to speak. Giving a hurried glance around, as if expecting to see some one in pursuit of her, she said: "Dad sent me, an' he said he did yit for the kindness you tried to do him yesterday. He said for you not to go on alone. Them bad Burrnocks are laying in the rock in Devil's Wash Bowl to kill you as you go erlong! Fact!" seeing Little Snap's look of doubt on his face. "Don't tell who told you," and before he could speak she had vanished into the depths of the woods. CHAPTER IX. A TERRIFIC TRAP.