The postboy's surprise was genuine, and had he pulled out a handful of gold dollars he could not have been more astonished, though it might have been in a different vein. "Wot'd I tell yer?" cried the man, exultantly. "Needn't look fur fer yer letters, Dan." "I shall look fur an' sharp afore this matter is settled," retorted Shag, taking the package. "Ye air all witnesses to wot has been done?" "O' course," was the general reply. Knowing it was useless for him to say more to them, Little Snap rode on toward Daring's Diamond in anything but an enviable frame of mind. "We have got to look sharper than this, Jack," he said, speaking to his horse. "There is something and some one at the bottom of all this, and I do not understand it. One thing is certain; that package was not in my pocket when I left Greenbrier. And another thing equally certain is the fact that I saw no one after I left that post office. Then how came it there?" Trying to solve this problem, Little Snap kept on toward Daring's Diamond, and then to Six Roads. While stopping to have the mail sorted at the Diamond, he saw Dan Shag ride past, and he knew the postmaster was hastening on to Six Roads to spread the news of his latest trouble. "I have got to keep my eyes open sharper than this or they will get the best of me yet. Push on, Jack! I am anxious to know how I shall be received at the home office." About the same crowd as usual was gathered around the office at Six Roads, and to the postboy's surprise, nothing was hinted of his recent adventures. After supper he sought Mr. Rimmon, to tell him the particulars of his last trip, the postmaster showing greater surprise than ever. "Whew! that is a tough one. Those Blazed Acreites mean you the worst kind of harm, I fear. At least they will after this. You were gritty, though. Let me advise you to take a guard from this time on for at least a week." "I would if that would end the matter, but I do not believe it would. The Burrnocks would naturally keep out of sight during that time, to begin their work as soon as I went alone, so it would only prolong the affair." "I don't know but you are right, Dix, but it puts you in a tight box. If the Honorable Jason was in town I would call him for a consultation." "That would do no good. He is no real friend to me, though he feels obliged to stand on my bond because Mr. Calvert says so." "Dix Lewis, you have hit the nail right on the head! In his anxiety to get a nomination to Congress he is catering to every one, and he is getting into the hands of some that are going to wreck him; mark my words. What do you propose to do?" "Keep on; only, I promise you, Mr. Rimmon, I won't be caught like that again." "Good! I hope you will come out at the top of the heap."