CHAPTER XVIII. A PERILOUS UNDERTAKING. "You will go up to Six Roads and see what can be done?" he asked, while his hopes sank lower and lower. "I can't. Say, tell you what I will do. I am intending to start for Washington to-day; but when I get through there, and it won't take me more than a week. I will come back by way of the Six Roads. I wish I had let the plaguey route alone." "That will be too late to help me," said Little Snap. "I tell you, you want to get out of it as quick as you can. Let this Shag you speak of carry the mail until I can get around." "I am afraid you do not understand the situation, Mr. Calvert. There is some sort of a conspiracy to rob the government, and this Dan Shag is one of those at the bottom of it." "Oh, nonsense! you have your suspicions and jump at conclusions. It may be that some of them are trying to crowd you a little, seeing you are a boy, but we all have to put up with such things. We laugh at them when we grow older. Come into the house and have some refreshments and a few hours' sleep before you attempt your long journey home. Jove! you showed good grit in undertaking it." "I undertook it in the good faith that you would stand by me in this affair, Mr. Calvert, and though it is worth something for me to know how you feel about it, I am disappointed to find you do not care for the welfare of the route, for whose success or failure you are really responsible." "You are pretty blunt, I will say that for you. I am inclined to think you will be a hard one for them to bluff down." "I shall stand up for my rights, Mr. Calvert, as long as I can. Can't you come to Six Roads before you go to Washington? They are expecting you." "You said Mr. Warfield still stands by you?" "Yes, sir." "Then, I think I can fix you all right. I will give you a note to him to stand by you until I come to town, though I still advise you to get out of it." Little Snap saw that it was no use to urge him more, so he remained silent, while Mr. Calvert hastily scribbled away on a slip of paper he took from his pocket. When he had finished, he read: "VOLNEY, Va., Sept. 18. "MR. JASON WARFIELD, Union Six Roads, Va. "DEAR SIR: Stand by the bearer of this, Mr. Dix Lewis, in his troubles as far as you think prudent, until I can see you. Your obt. servant, MARION CALVERT." "There, I think that will do the business. Sorry you don't feel like coming in to rest until daylight. It's a long, lonesome ride before you." Thanking him, Little Snap took the piece of paper, and carefully placing it in one of his pockets, he wheeled the horse about to start homeward. "Hold on!" cried Mr. Calvert, as the postboy gained the road. Little Snap turned the horse and galloped back into the yard, wondering and hoping.