Before leaving Greenbrier, however, he called upon one of the leading citizens, whom he believed he could trust, to give him an account of the attack of the Burrnock brothers, the other listening to his story with amazement. "By Jones, Dix! I don't like the looks of that. But I don't want to scare you off the route. You may not hear anything more from them. I will see that Rimmon goes up that way to find out if they have taken care of themselves. If there is any further trouble of this kind, let me know." [Illustration: "Jack leaped forward, his body striking Buzzard Burrnock and sending him headlong down the side of the abyss." ] Thanking Mr. Drayton for his kind words, Little Snap resumed his journey, meeting with no adventure until he reached the next office on his route. This was no doubt one of the most singular post offices in the country. It was called the Hollow Tree, and there was not a house within sight of the lonely spot. As Little Snap reined up at the place, a man with a slouching figure, and a sort of hangdog look upon his sunburned features, stepped from a hollow pine to reach for the pouch. He was Dan Shag, a notorious character in that vicinity, of whom nothing very bad was known, though he was a person of few friends. This office afforded the mail facility for the inhabitants of "Blazed Acre," an isolated settlement of lawless people, among whom dwelt the bushbinders. The place was three miles and a half back from the post road, and reached only by a bridle path. "It's purty light to-day," said the postmaster, as he took the mail pouch from the postboy and carried it into the Hollow Tree, that had been fitted up in a rude sort of way with recesses for the few letters and papers making up the intercourse the people of the Blazed Acre had with the outside world. While Dix waited for Dan Shag to sort the mail, a quartet of ill-looking men, whom he recognized as representatives of the isolated settlement, emerged from the growth surrounding the Hollow Tree and shambled up to the spot. "Meet th' boys up yonder?" asked the foremost of the newcomers, jerking his thumb over his shoulder after the manner of Pewee Burrnock. He was Robin, another of the brothers of that name, more repulsive-looking than any of the others, if that were possible. Little Snap nodded. "Any trouble?" Before the postboy could reply, Dan Shag reappeared upon the scene with a startled look upon his face. "What does this mean, boy?" he demanded, fiercely. "I don't understand you," replied Little Snap, in surprise. "Where's the package for Hollow Tree? The letters and things, I mean," he added, seeing Little Snap's look of amazement. "In the bag with the rest," said the postboy. "There ain't a dratted thing, an' there's alwus a big bundle o' Wednesdays." "You must have overlooked it, Dan. I heard Belmont, at the Salt Works, say there was a larger package than common. It must be there."