Simultaneous with the command, two burly figures sprang from behind a big bowlder by the wayside, and while he who spoke leveled a short-barreled shotgun at his head, the second seized hold of Jack's bit. "What do you mean by? stopping me?" demanded the surprised postboy. "Let go there, Hawk Burrnock, so I can pass on." "In a minnit, Dix Lewis; don't git onpatient, fer ye hev got time 'nough to git to Six Roads on tick. Ye hev a letter we want." "Then come along with me and you can get it at the post office." "We want it here—now!" and the firearm in the man's hand shook ominously. "But I have no right to open the mail pouch on the road like this. If I am not mistaken, your mail comes to the Hollow Tree. Mr. Shag will let you have it there." "He won't, younker, 'cos ye air goin' to let us hev it here!" Little Snap knew the man by sight, but better by reputation as one of the most dangerous men living, and belonging to a gang called "bushbinders." "I tell you I am not allowed to open the mail anywhere. Come along——" "Mebbe ye air 'fraid we'll rob it; but to show ye thet we air on th' square, we'll stand back ten feet, while ye git out th' document. It's sent to dad, Bird Burrnock. Kem, don't keep us waitin' till dark. I sw'ar no Dan Shag shall open a letter b'longin' to our family." "Yas; hurry up," added the other, who was a brother of the first speaker. Little Snap knew that his situation was a desperate one, and that there was small chance of his getting off without yielding to the ruffians. Still he quickly decided to baffle them if it lay in his power. How to do that was a difficult question. "Air ye goin' to do it?" demanded Burrnock, "or shall we hev to take it from ye? 'Pears to me ye oughter thank us fer bein' perlite 'nough to let ye handle the ol' sack." "I repeat that I cannot do it, as much as I would like to oblige you. It would be against——" "Bah! ye could do yit ef ye felt like yit. Uncle Sam need never know ye hev tampered with yit, 'less ye air fool 'nough to tell. Kem, once more, an' fer the las' time, I ax ye to hand over dad's letter. Why, it's his'n, an' ye hev no bizness to keep yit." Little Snap had already formed a plan of action, which, if desperate, was only in keeping with his situation. He said: "You say you will stand back ten feet, and will not touch me while I am finding the letter?" "Ye hev coined my idee, only there's to be no foolin'. Shoot ye, true ez preachin', ef ye show the fust sign o' treachery. D'ye cave?" "I'll do all I agree, if you will keep your word. As I dismount, you must step back, and upon your knees you must promise you will never tell a living soul I opened that mail pouch." As Little Snap spoke he slipped from the saddle into the middle of the road, the outlaws at the same time falling back a few feet. "Rip th' ol' sack open lively, 'cos we an't got enny time to fool 'way," growled Buzzard Burrnock, as he loosened his hold on the bridle.