Little Snap realized that he was in the power of men who would hesitate at nothing to carry out their unlawful purpose, and he thought of his mother even then anxiously awaiting his return home, and imagined the anguish she would feel upon his failure to come. He thought of his father, so helpless to aid the others, and his younger sister and brother, and the sorrow they would experience. Still, with these sad reflections in his mind, and the dread consequence if he refused to comply with the demands of his captors plainly before him, he hesitated but a moment in his reply. "I cannot accept your terms." "Fetch erlong th' rope, boys," ordered Bird Burrnock, tersely. "I reckon 'twon't take us long to change his mind." CHAPTER XX. A STARTLING DISCOVERY. Buzzard Burrnock quickly entered one of the dark recesses of the cavern, returning a moment later with a coil of rope on his arm. "Make a loop in one end," commanded the elder Burrnock. "Be lively, too, fer we don't want to fool with him hyur all day." When the rope had been arranged to their satisfaction, the noose was slipped over Little Snap's shoulders, so the cord encircled his body under the arms. "Drag him to th' pit!" cried the leader. "Reckon a leetle consideration there'll take th' starch out'n him." Buzzard Burrnock and Hawk seized hold of the postboy, one on either side, and half dragging him, he was swiftly taken along a winding passage leading from the underground room, until the sharp voice of Bird Burrnock ordered a halt. "Swing forward th' torch so's he can see wot's ahead," said the chief, when Little Snap saw to his horror that he stood at the brink of a huge fissure in the rock. "'Tis bottomless, es fur es we know. At enny rate, it's deep 'nough to send you into eternity. Now, boys, lower him over th' hole, an' let him down till he says he's willin' to agree to our terms. Hev it over es quick es possible." "Look here!" exclaimed the postboy; "if you are in such haste and time is so valuable to you, I will tell you how you can save this delay. You waste time in thinking you can make me agree to your terms. My answer was final." The outlaw waved his hand impatiently, when his followers pushed Little Snap over the edge of the abyss, so he dangled from the rope held in their hands. "Lower him away!" ordered Burrnock. "I reckon a taste o' thet darkness'll bring him to his senses. Lower!" A thrill of dread ran through the postboy's frame as he sank lower and lower into the unknown depths. "Why don't ye yell out?" demanded the outlaw chief, his dark visage appearing over the rim of the rock. He was evidently disappointed at the coolness of their victim. "Yell at th' top o' yer lungs; needn't be 'fraid o' ennybuddy hearin' ye! Haw! haw!" Then the speaker's coarse face disappeared, and Snap was dropped several feet in a jerky manner.