"Nothing more serious than the falling of one of the Burrnock brothers down the side of Greenbrier and breaking his neck. Mail all right?" "It seems to be, and, judging by the size of the package, the Hollow Tree folks won't have reason to complain this time. But you have not told me all about this Burrnock's falling and—was he killed? Oh! how I fear those men, and I tremble for you every time you go past. Which one was this?" "Robin; but I can't give you any particulars. Good-day." The postboy found the postmaster at Hollow Tree impatiently waiting for him. "Late again!" he growled. "I wonder what the Washington chaps would say if they knowed 'bout it?" Without replying, Little Snap tossed him the pouch, amusing himself while the other sorted the mail by stroking the neck of Jack and talking to the horse as was his wont. In the midst of his simple talk Shag rushed out of his office, looking uncommonly red in the face, as he shouted: "No mail for the Tree again! What does that mean?" Looking toward the speaker with surprise, Little Snap did not know what reply to make. "Oh, ye needn't look so innercent, ye thievin' rat! Mebbe ye think ye can make th' racket work ag'in, but I'll show ye ye can't! Where's th' mail ye should hev fer this offis?" "In that sack, if anywhere. That is where it should be, if you haven't taken it out." "I haven't, an' I can prove it by th' boys hyur," pointing to the three men who had followed him from the building. Little Snap's surprise was great, though he did not have any doubt in his mind that Dan Shag had taken out the package and was intending to bluff him down. "Mr. Shag, if you haven't that mail in your office, then I do not know where it is. I do know there was a lot for you here, or I know, at least, Budd Grass, at Greenbrier, said so." "Projuce, then!" cried the postmaster. "I can prove by these men that I haven't taken a thing out o' thet bag thet b'longed hyur." Little Snap stepped into the office, but, of course, the missing package was not in sight. "I'll know the whys an' whurfor's o' this afore dark," cried the excited postmaster, closing the door with a slam. "I'm goin' to Union Six Roads, boys, an' ef enny one wants to know why th' offis is shut tell 'em." "T'other lot wuz found in th' feller's saddle pocket, Dan," said one of the bystanders; "why don't ye look there fer this?" "'Tain't likely he'd do the same thing over ag'in," replied the postmaster. "He'd be more sly this time." Little Snap had taken the pouch and was throwing it on the horse's back at the time. "You can look if you want to, but you will not find——" Little Snap did not finish his sentence, for while speaking he had thrust his hand into the depths of the pocket, and finding a bundle in his grasp, he pulled out the missing parcel of mail! CHAPTER XXVIII. THE STRANGE HORSEMAN.