Little Snap had thought to seize the sack and spring down upon the lower rim of ledge out of the outlaw's reach before he could stop him. But Robin Burrnock proved himself almost as nimble as his young assailant, so the postboy found himself caught in the man's strong arms, when the twain became locked in a hand-to-hand struggle for life or death. "The old Nick take ye!" howled the desperado of Blazed Acre, "I'll show ye yer match wunst." The shelf was not more than four feet in width and six in length, while the descent was nearly perpendicular to the road a hundred feet below, so the combatants had small chance for operation, but each did his best, knowing it was a fight to the bitter end. Little Snap particularly realized that it was life or death with him, and though smaller and weaker than his antagonist, he made such a desperate resistance that the outlaw found himself for once matched. To and fro, back and forth the two struggled, first one reeling back against the steep side of the mountain and then the other, each in turn recovering himself, to renew the contest with more earnestness than before. Burrnock had succeeded in getting in a vise-like grip upon Little Snap's throat, and our hero tried in vain to break from it. "Now, my leetle bantam, I'll see who is master!" With all the power he could muster, the postboy caught upon the wrist of Burrnock's uplifted arm with his right hand, while with the other he tried in vain to tear away the clutch at his throat. CHAPTER XXVII. LITTLE SNAP'S SURPRISE. In the brief time he felt himself succumbing to the overmastering strength of Robin Burrnock, a thousand thoughts seemed to flit through Little Snap's mind. It was a moment he would never forget. Once more rallying to throw off his antagonist, he struggled with renewed power at the hand grasping his throat, while with the other he kept aloft the brawny arm of the outlaw. "Think ye ken whup me, blast yer!" growled the aroused robber, maddened to find himself thwarted, if but for a while, by the postboy. Little Snap was standing on the very brink of the shelf, with his back toward the precipice, and as Robin Burrnock redoubled his exertions to overpower him, he felt his footing give way and himself reeling backward over the chasm. Instinctively, he loosened his hold on the outlaw's wrist, to throw out his arm in a wild effort to save himself. In vain! With a cry of horror on his lips, he saw the fist of Burrnock descend, and at the same time he went backward over the abyss! His cry was swiftly followed by one from the outlaw, as he, too, staggered to and fro on the brink. Little Snap's fall caused him to lose his foothold, and while the postboy fell, the outlaw was carried heels over head down the declivity, another yell of horror awakening the silence of the lonely scene with its startling intonations.