With these words, Mr. Rimmon, leading Jack by the bridle, started toward the home of the Lewises. "Great guns!" exclaimed Shag, as soon as he could speak; "wot in creation do ye mean? Foolin' with me, a United States officer, in thet way! Where's Judge Claverton? I'll hev him tear this ol' shebang o' a post offis down, but I'll hev thet mail bag!" A few of the spectators cheered him, but the majority followed the postmaster toward the more exciting scene around the besieged house. At least that is what it looked to Mr. Rimmon, as he approached, with Jack walking by his side. Foremost in the excited throng that had surrounded the home of the postboy, was Sheriff Brady, who was speaking to Mrs. Lewis and the crowd at his heels in almost the same breath. "Wait a minute longer, boys! Tell us where he has gone, Mary Lewis, and we won't molest you." The overwrought woman was standing in the doorway with one of her children on either side. Her inflamed eyes told that she had been weeping. It had been a night she would never forget. "I repeat, Mr. Brady," she said, for the twentieth time, "that he has gone to Volney to see Mr. Calvert, and that he will be back at six!" "Tell us something else; it will at least make a change, Mrs. Lewis. Of course, we know better than that. You are knowing to where he has hid himself." "It's past six!" cried some one from the crowd. "So 'tis," cried the sheriff. "I don't like to resort to any violence with a woman. Wait one minnit longer. While we wait, tell us the truth, woman." In vain she reiterated the truthfulness of her statement. The frenzied spectators would listen to nothing reasonable. At this critical moment little Sammy Lewis, dragging his boyish figure to its full height with manly dignity, stepped in front of his imperiled mother, crying: "You shall not hurt her! She has told the truth of Dix. We do not know why he does not come; but he went to see Mr. Calvert. He will come back as soon as he can." "What means all this outcry?" demanded the clear voice of Mr. Rimmon. "Sheriff Brady, is it thus you perform the duties of your office with such a rabble at your back?" Every one started in surprise at the appearance of the postmaster, and low exclamations came from the lips of all at sight of the postboy's horse. Mrs. Lewis seemed to comprehend the worst at a single glance. "My boy! what has happened to him?" she cried, rushing forward to Mr. Rimmon. "Be calm, Mary. Let us trust he is safe." "But how came Jack here without him?" The appearance of the horse was then told in a few words, while numerous conjectures were offered in regard to the rider. "You say he went away with both his horses," said Mr. Rimmon. "The fact that this one has come back without any saddle shows that he must have been riding Fairy at the time Jack got away from him, or was perhaps sent ahead by his master to tell us that he is safe. I look upon it as a good sign.