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35. "Good-morning, Mr. Rimmon. I s'pose ye heerd what th' judge sed
las' evenin' thet I'm to carry th' mail arter this. I hev resigned the
Tree office, so it's all regular. Seein' I'm new to th' bizness, I thought
mebbe ye wouldn't object to lettin' me start a leetle arly th' fust
time."
"I shall object, most decidedly, Mr. Shag."
"Hev yit yer own way, Mr. Rimmon, though ye'll find I ain't a boy to
be run over. Ye'll let me hev it at six sharp, or thar'll be war in th'
United States camp."
To this the postmaster made no reply, while one and all waited the
outcome of this trying scene.
In the midst of the fearful ordeal the sun rose above the crest of the
distant mountains, and then a murmur ran along the expectant
crowd.
"It's six o'clock!" cried Sheriff Brady, consulting his watch. "The time
is up, Mrs. Lewis, and the boy has not come, as I knew he wouldn't.
I have kept my word, and you cannot expect any more."
"It's six!" exclaimed Dan Shag, moving uneasily in his saddle. "Hand
over thet mail bag, Mr. Rimmon, fer ye can't hol' it enny longer."
The postmaster cast a last, anxious gaze down the road before he
replied, and then a cry of great relief left his lips.
"He is coming!"
Eagerly the spectators looked down the road, and a murmur of joy
arose on the air, as they saw the figure of a horse galloping rapidly
toward the town. But the look of relief on the faces of all turned to
one of dread expectancy, as they discovered that the creature was
riderless!
It was Jack, the postboy's favorite steed, his sides covered with
foam, and his breath coming in quick, short gasps, as he sped like
the wind toward his home, but Little Snap was not on his back!
36. CHAPTER XVI.
A LONELY NIGHT RIDE.
During this long, anxious night how has it fared with Little Snap? Is
the return of Jack without him a good or an evil omen?
Let us see.
His most direct course to Volney was by the post road to Greenbrier,
after which he must take a more southerly direction by following the
left bank of the Little Kanawha to the Blue Stone River. From this
junction he was to ride ten miles within sound of this stream, when
he must leave the river road for one leading over the hills to the
east.
Though there was no moon, the night was made pleasant by a
myriad of stars in the mellow autumn sky, so he rode on with a
hopeful heart that he should have no trouble in finding his way.
Not a light was to be seen at Daring's Diamond, but quite
unexpectedly a dim blaze shone from Hollow Tree, though he had
not supposed the postmaster had had time to get home from Six
Roads.
But every moment was of value to him, so he dashed past the lonely
place without slackening his pace, until he reached the homely
village of Greenbrier.
Even then he was rushing on at the same headlong pace he had
followed since leaving home, when suddenly a familiar voice
arrested his flight.
37. "What in the name of George Washington are you riding like that for,
Dix Lewis?"
The speaker was a Mr. Renders, whom Little Snap had always
considered friendly to him, so he reined in Fairy and quickly
explained the object of his long ride.
"I am afraid it will prove a wild-goose ride, Dix, but I wish you
success. Say, I'll tell you how I can help you. I have a brother living
at the corner of the Blue Stone and Mountain roads, and he has a
horse you can get to finish your journey with, and leave yours there
to rest till you come back. I think it is about ten miles from my
brother's to Volney. A shift of horses will come in mighty handy
about that time. Let me write a line to Joe, which will make your
chances doubly sure."
Mr. Renders wasn't long in carrying out his intentions, and, thanking
him for his kindness, the postboy again urged Fairy on, the trusty
Jack keeping beside his mate without attention from his master.
The Little Kanawha road was an extremely lonely one, but being
nearly level, Little Snap sped on with unabated speed.
Thus he had swung around a sharp bend in the highway, when he
was surprised by a beseeching voice calling out:
"Hold up, mister, a minute! Don't be scart, for I ain't a highwayman,
but I want a ride!"
The speaker rose so nearly from the middle of the road that Jack
had to shy in order to avoid running over him.
"I can't go no farther, mister! so please have pity on me."
Owing to the thick growth by the roadside, it was too dark for the
boy rider to distinguish the features of the stranger. He was a burly
framed man, and seemed to be shabbily dressed. He carried a short,
heavy stick, whether for a cane or a weapon of defense Little Snap
had no time to consider.
38. "You have a spare horse," continued the other, without giving the
postboy opportunity to reply to him. "Let me ride him, and you'll do
the greatest favor of your life. It is a case of got to with me, or I
would not ask it. I am on my way to see a dying mother, and I have
walked till I can't get one foot ahead of the other any longer."
He had caught hold of Jack's rein, for Little Snap had put a bridle on
the horse before starting, and he was in the act of climbing into the
saddle.
"Hold on, sir!" exclaimed Dix Lewis, sharply. "I do not doubt your
honesty——"
"It's a case of must, mister! Let me ride him if for only a mile. He's
doing you no good."
"I have got a long journey ahead—so long that I must have him
fresh to help me get there. I am sorry to refuse you."
"It's such a small thing I ask of you, and you can do it just as well as
not. Think if your mother was dying and you were thirty miles from
her, and you should ask a man to let you ride a spare horse he had
to see her. I will give you a hundred dollars if you will let me ride ten
miles."
Uttered in a pleading, earnest tone, the words touched the postboy's
heart.
"Where do you wish to go?"
"To the town of Volney. If you are any acquainted there you may
know Marion Calvert. He is my cousin. My name is Atwin, and I live
in Frankfort."
"You know Marion Calvert? I am going to see him!"
"You don't say so! Perhaps you are a relation of his?"
"No, sir. I am going to see him on business. Every moment is
precious to me, too, for I must get back before morning."
"I am sorry to have bothered you, but it was a case of necessity. You
are going to let me ride?"
39. Little Snap was never so puzzled in his life. While not wishing to
refuse the man, he still knew it would jeopardize his chances of
getting back to Six Roads in season.
While he hesitated a moment, the stranger moved nearer Jack, and
gathering himself to spring into the seat, said:
"I shall never—whoa! Stand still, you brute!"
Jack had begun to step backward, and flinging up his head, broke
the man's hold from the bridle.
Then uttering a snort, Jack darted forward to Little Snap's side.
"What sort of a confounded hoss have you got here?" cried the
unknown, again seizing the bridle, this time leaping nimbly into the
saddle.
"What is the trouble, Jack, old boy?" asked his master, wondering at
the creature's singular and unusual action.
No sooner had the stranger gained the seat than the horse sprang
abruptly to one side, and rearing into the air, sent the man flying
heels over head into the bushes by the roadside.
All of this was done so suddenly that Little Snap had not found time
to express his amazement.
As if impelled by a newborn fear, Jack bounded up the road, with a
whinny of terror.
"Hi, there! help—quick—he'll get away from me!" cried the man,
staggering to his feet and bursting through the bushes into the road.
Though startled by this unexpected turn in affairs, the postboy had
presence of mind enough to see that the stranger was no longer a
supplicant for favors, but that a fierce determination to gain his ends
was apparent on his features and in his voice.
He started to catch hold of Fairy's bridle, but with a snort of defiance
the creature threw back her head, and Little Snap, reading the
other's purpose, touched her smartly with the spur.
40. At that moment the tramp of feet came from the growth, and the
burly figures of three or four men sprang into sight.
41. CHAPTER XVII.
LITTLE SNAP'S DISAPPOINTMENT.
"He's getting away!" shouted the man who had hailed the postboy.
"Come on, you lubbers!"
If Little Snap had been taken off his guard at first, he was wide
awake enough now, and giving Fairy an encouraging cry, he was
borne swiftly away by the fleet-footed mare.
Glancing back once more, he saw the four men in pursuit of him, but
as long as they were on foot, he had but little to fear from them.
With their hoarse shouts ringing in his ears, he sped around a curve
in the road and out of their sight.
After he had gone a couple of miles, finding that he was not likely to
be troubled by their pursuit, he slackened Fairy's speed, and
improved his first opportunity to bend over and pat Jack's head close
beside him, saying:
"Noble boy, you knew more than your master that time. I wonder
where I should be now if you hadn't read that fellow's intentions
better than I did? I wasn't quite satisfied with him, but his story did
throw me off my guard. I have got to keep my eyes open sharper
than that."
Talking thus, half to his animal friends and half to himself, he rode
swiftly on toward Volney, the soft, clayey soil muffling the hoof
strokes of his horses so that they gave back no sound, his advance
scarcely breaking in upon the silence of the night.
42. Soon after his escape from the waylayers, whom he judged the men
to be, he shifted upon Jack, giving Fairy a rest.
To his joy he at last came to what he was confident was the corner
of the Blue Stone and Mountain roads spoken of by Mr. Renders.
If he had had any lingering doubts about this, they were driven
away at sight of a farmhouse standing back a short distance from
the latter highway and nearly concealed by a clump of trees, and
which he knew must be the house of Mr. Renders' brother.
An unnatural stillness seemed to hang over the place, and at first he
was inclined to ignore Mr. Renders' advice and keep on. But he knew
only too well that Jack and Fairy needed all the rest they could get
before completing their long journey.
Accordingly, he advanced boldly to the door, and seizing the heavy
brass knocker, he raised a noise that must have aroused every
inmate of the house.
Heads quickly began to appear from the windows, until he imagined
he had awakened a house full of people.
"Who's there, and what is wanted at this unseemly hour?"
demanded a voice he felt sure belonged to the host.
Little Snap quickly explained his situation, and as he finished
speaking, handed Mr. Renders the note sent by his brother.
"Wait till I can strike a light, when I will read it, and if I think
favorable of what he says, I will be out in a moment."
Then the window was closed, while a minute later a light shone from
the apartment.
This last soon began to move about, and it was not long before the
door was opened, when Mr. Renders appeared fully dressed.
"Hope you will excuse my delay, but I didn't keep you waiting longer
than I could help. So you have come from Six Roads?"
"Yes, sir; and I have got to get back there before six o'clock this
morning, or I would never have troubled you."
43. "Never mind that. I have called better men than I am out of their
nests on worse nights than this. In regard to a horse, I have one
which can take you to Volney and back in one hour, though I don't
care about having you crowd him quite as hard as that, unless it is
necessary."
"I will not hurt the horse. Can you let me have him? I will pay you
well——"
"A fig for the pay! Dismount and turn your animals into that pen. I
claim a horse can rest better by having a chance to move about if he
wants to. I will feed them as soon as they have cooled off
somewhat. I will lead out my horse."
Hardly able to comprehend that he was so well favored, Little Snap
did as he was told, and by the time he had seen Fairy and Jack in
comfortable quarters, Mr. Renders had his horse ready for him to
spring into the saddle.
"He may need a little urging, but don't spare him. It is eleven miles
to Volney, and he is good for the trip and return without any more
stop than you will wish to make with Mr. Calvert. I think you will be
fortunate enough to find that gentleman at home."
Mr. Renders then described Mr. Calvert's house to him, so he would
have no difficulty in finding it, when Little Snap began the second
stage of his journey.
The road now more broken than it had been since leaving
Greenbrier, Little Snap rode on over hill and through valley, finding
the horse loaned him by Mr. Renders an exceptionally fine animal.
He had consulted his watch to find it was a quarter of two, when he
looked ahead to see what he believed to be the village of Volney.
"Almost there," he muttered. "How glad I am. Now if I find Mr.
Calvert at home I shall be soon on my return journey. That is the
house Mr. Renders described, I am sure. How still it looks around it!"
Speaking his thoughts thus aloud, Little Snap dashed into the
spacious grounds surrounding the quaint, old-fashioned dwelling he
44. supposed was the home of the man he had ridden so far to see.
The occupant of the house proved to be more wakeful than he had
expected, for he had barely pulled rein under the enormous willow
growing by the door before a chamber window was opened, and a
man's voice demanded.
"Who's there?"
"My name is Lewis, and I am from Union Six Roads. Does Mr. Calvert
live here?"
"That's my name, sir, though I do not recognize yours."
"I carry the mail on the Kanawha route. Of course, you remember
Dix Lewis, to whom you sub-let the line?"
"Wait a minute and I'll be down there."
Giving the finishing touches to his toilet, as he appeared, Mr. Calvert
soon opened the heavy door and stepped out into the night.
He was a man in the vicinity of forty, with a frank, good-natured
looking countenance, who seemed rather brusque in his movements
and manner of speaking.
"I hardly remember your countenance, Mr. Lewis," he said, as he
stepped forward and extended his right hand; "but that is nothing
strange, as we never met but that once. What in the name of
Congress has brought you here at this unexpected hour? But excuse
me, dismount, put your horse in the barn, and come into the house
before you begin your talk. I would call one of the negroes, but they
are so sleepy at this time of night they are no good."
"I can't stop," said Little Snap, as soon as he could find an
opportunity to speak. "I have to get back to Six Roads in season to
take the mail to the Loop to-day."
"You won't do it, all the same. But what's up?"
The postboy then made the other acquainted with all that had
happened, interrupted several times by Mr. Calvert, who finally
exclaimed:
45. "A bad pickle, I should say. But I am glad you have come to me. Of
course the only thing for you to do is to get out of it."
"I cannot do that with honor to myself," said Little Snap, who had
not expected this from the contractor. "It would look as if I was
really to blame for all they have said."
"Better let it look like that than to get your neck in the halter, or a
bullet through your head."
The postboy could not help showing his surprise. Was it for this he
had ridden so far, and with such high-colored hopes? He had not
dreamed of anything other than assistance from the man who was
behind him in his undertaking.
46. CHAPTER XVIII.
A PERILOUS UNDERTAKING.
"You will go up to Six Roads and see what can be done?" he asked,
while his hopes sank lower and lower.
"I can't. Say, tell you what I will do. I am intending to start for
Washington to-day; but when I get through there, and it won't take
me more than a week. I will come back by way of the Six Roads. I
wish I had let the plaguey route alone."
"That will be too late to help me," said Little Snap.
"I tell you, you want to get out of it as quick as you can. Let this
Shag you speak of carry the mail until I can get around."
"I am afraid you do not understand the situation, Mr. Calvert. There
is some sort of a conspiracy to rob the government, and this Dan
Shag is one of those at the bottom of it."
"Oh, nonsense! you have your suspicions and jump at conclusions. It
may be that some of them are trying to crowd you a little, seeing
you are a boy, but we all have to put up with such things. We laugh
at them when we grow older. Come into the house and have some
refreshments and a few hours' sleep before you attempt your long
journey home. Jove! you showed good grit in undertaking it."
"I undertook it in the good faith that you would stand by me in this
affair, Mr. Calvert, and though it is worth something for me to know
how you feel about it, I am disappointed to find you do not care for
the welfare of the route, for whose success or failure you are really
responsible."
47. "You are pretty blunt, I will say that for you. I am inclined to think
you will be a hard one for them to bluff down."
"I shall stand up for my rights, Mr. Calvert, as long as I can. Can't
you come to Six Roads before you go to Washington? They are
expecting you."
"You said Mr. Warfield still stands by you?"
"Yes, sir."
"Then, I think I can fix you all right. I will give you a note to him to
stand by you until I come to town, though I still advise you to get
out of it."
Little Snap saw that it was no use to urge him more, so he remained
silent, while Mr. Calvert hastily scribbled away on a slip of paper he
took from his pocket. When he had finished, he read:
"Volney, Va., Sept. 18.
"Mr. Jason Warfield, Union Six Roads, Va.
"Dear Sir: Stand by the bearer of this, Mr. Dix Lewis, in his
troubles as far as you think prudent, until I can see you.
Your obt. servant,
Marion Calvert."
"There, I think that will do the business. Sorry you don't feel like
coming in to rest until daylight. It's a long, lonesome ride before
you."
Thanking him, Little Snap took the piece of paper, and carefully
placing it in one of his pockets, he wheeled the horse about to start
homeward.
"Hold on!" cried Mr. Calvert, as the postboy gained the road.
Little Snap turned the horse and galloped back into the yard,
wondering and hoping.
48. "I wanted to say that you will no doubt see the wisdom of my advice
before you get home."
"If that is all you have to say to me farther, Mr. Calvert," said our
hero, somewhat sharply, "I will bid you good-night! My name is at
stake in this matter, and I will know the right and the wrong of it
before I am driven out."
The postboy spoke more sharply than he intended, but the other's
last words had cut like a knife. Without waiting for a reply, he
touched the horse smartly with the spurs and sped down the road at
a furious pace.
"I should know he was a Lewis if I hadn't heard his name," muttered
the mail contractor, as he watched the boyish rider out of sight. "I
ought to have known better than to have let him fool with the
business at the outset, but Rimmon said he could do it. Well, I must
get ready for my start to the capital."
His hopes crushed, so far as expecting any aid from Mr. Calvert was
concerned, Little Snap pursued his homeward journey with a gloomy
mind. Since midnight the sky had become overcast, so it was quite
dark—too dark for him to note his surroundings with any clearness.
The ride back as far as Mr. Renders' seemed shorter than he had
expected, and he found that gentleman awaiting his coming.
"You went pretty quick, but Jim don't show his journey a bit. I tell
you that horse can't be beat very easy. Pay? I don't want a red cent.
I have fed your horses, so they are all right to start. How'd you find
Calvert? He's cranky sometimes, but a fairly good sort of a fellow as
men go. Wish he might go to Congress rather than that old Warfield.
Never liked that old duffer; he's deceitful. Nothing of that kind about
Cal. Hello! Starting?"
While Mr. Renders had been running on in his sort of haphazard way,
Little Snap had put the saddle on Jack's back and sprung into the
seat.
49. "I wish you would take pay for the use of your horse, Mr. Renders,
but if you won't, I am a thousand times obliged to you, and I hope I
can do you a favor some time. Good-night."
"He's right after his business!" said the other to himself, as the
clatter of horses' hoofs died out in the distance. "That boy is bound
to succeed."
Riding swiftly homeward, Little Snap was saying to his dumb
companions:
"I have to fight my own battles, and this trip has been for nothing.
No; not for nothing, for I know just what to do now. You needn't
crowd on quite so hard, Jack; we have plenty of time."
Shifting from one animal to the other when he thought best, Little
Snap rode on through the night, unmindful of the gathering
stormclouds, though he kept a sharp gaze as he drew near the
lonesome spot where he had been accosted by the stranger.
Not a sound broke the deathlike silence, save the dull tramp of his
horses' feet, and with a feeling of relief he had soon left the place a
mile behind.
At Greenbrier the postboy shifted steeds, giving Jack another rest,
intending to return to him at Daring's Diamond.
No one was astir at this place yet, neither was there any sign of life
at Hollow Tree. But he hadn't gone a dozen rods beyond the Tree
before a sharp voice commanded him to stop, and he suddenly
found his way blocked with a body of armed men.
Three or four caught upon Fairy's bit with a force which dragged her
back upon her haunches, and Little Snap was nearly pulled from his
seat.
Realizing his desperate situation, the postboy dextrously slipped the
bridle from the mare's head, at the same time shouting for her to
rush on. Rallying, she made the wild attempt, and Jack, having
already cleared a way through the party, she followed upon his
heels.
50. Shots rang about the fleeing postboy's head, some of the bullets
flying uncomfortably near, but he fancied he was going to get away,
when he dashed furiously down the descent leading to Greenbrier
bridge.
As he came in sight of the stream with its high, precipitous banks, a
cry of dismay left his lips. Every bridge plank had been removed,
and only the stringers spanned the dark chasm of foaming waters!
Retreat cut off, with no possible chance to ford the stream, Little
Snap saw at a glance that he was rushing into a veritable deathtrap!
The cries of his pursuers rang exultantly in his ears.
51. CHAPTER XIX.
THE BUSHBINDERS' PLANS.
Little Snap's first impulse, as he saw the trap into which he had been
driven, was to turn at bay and meet his enemies in a hand-to-hand
struggle, as hopeless as his chances were.
But at that moment Jack had reached the bank of the stream, and
the fleeing horse, instead of checking his speed or turning aside,
sped like an arrow out over one of the bridge stringers toward the
other side!
The postboy was not far behind the gallant steed, but he had
opportunity to see the horse rush safely the length of the timber, to
reach the clear way beyond.
With a snort, as if of triumph, Jack renewed his swift flight now in
comparative safety.
The sight of this feat caused the hopes of Little Snap to rise, and he
resolved to follow the example set by his equine friend.
"On, Fairy!" he cried; "it is our only chance!"
The pursuers suddenly stopped, as they beheld with amazement the
daring deed attempted by the fugitive.
Fairy, seeming to realize the desperate part she was to act in the
startling undertaking, rushed fearlessly in the steps of her mate.
Sitting firmly in his saddle, the postboy felt himself carried out over
the dark chasm, and he caught a gleam of the foaming waters
hurling their forces madly against the rock walls of the channel. The
52. next instant he felt a quiver run through the frame of the faithful
steed, and he knew that she was falling!
Under the weight of her burden the mare somehow missed her
footing, her feet slipped on the treacherous way, and she tried in
vain to recover her equilibrium.
Finding that she was falling, Little Snap freed his feet from the
stirrups just as horse and rider shot headlong into the boiling river!
At that moment the pursuing party halted on the bank of the
stream, amazed witnesses of the mishap.
Little Snap was carried completely over a stringer running parallel
with the first, and, lighter than the horse, struck in the water farther
down the stream.
Fortunately, he escaped the jagged rocks of the banks, though the
fall deprived him for a time of his senses. When he came to a
realization of his situation, he found himself struggling in a mass of
débris which had clogged the river a short distance below the
crossing.
In the midst of his efforts to extricate himself, he heard a voice just
above him. Then, as he peered out from his retreat, he saw some of
his enemies coming rapidly toward the place.
"I can see him!" cried the foremost. "I knew he came down this
way."
"Give up, younker!" called another voice. "Ye mought as well, fer we
air sure to git yer."
Letting go the branch upon which he had found himself clinging,
Little Snap hoped to elude his foes by swimming down the stream.
But he found himself so entangled in the mass of floating wood
about him, that before he could get clear, the party was in the water
beside him.
A sharp struggle ensued, but at its end the postboy was dragged out
of the water by the hands of the Burrnock gang.
53. "Bind him, boys!" said the leader, exultantly. "That's gittin' him what
I call mighty easy. I tole yer the bridge racket would fix him."
"What do you mean by this treatment?" demanded the postboy, as
he found himself bound hands and feet.
"Keep cool an' ye'll find out quick 'nough, younker. Tote him erlong,
boys."
Little Snap looked for some trace of Fairy, but in vain.
Nothing further was said by his captors, while he was borne away
into the depths of the forest, subject to such thoughts and feelings
as may be imagined. What would they think at home of his non-
appearance when the time for his return came? Then he thought of
Jack, and wondered if the horse would keep on until he had reached
Six Roads. He was certain the steed would, and this gave him the
only hope he felt in his captivity.
At last the captors and their prisoner reached the little opening
marking the top of the bluff overhanging the cave, where Little Snap
had once sought Ab Raggles.
In the party which had effected his capture he saw Buzzard and
Hawk Burrnock, while the leader of the gang was none other than
he who had been chief spokesman in the cavern. This man the
postboy soon found was Bird Burrnock, the father of the four
brothers.
As soon as the underground room was reached, Bird Burrnock
addressed the captive as follows:
"Time is too mighty short, younker, fer us to perlaver with yer. 'Tis
true we mought hev saved a good leetle slice o' yit by knockin' ye in
th' head when we pulled ye out'n th' river. To speak th' truth, I
hoped th' river would fix yer; but seein' yit wan't likely to, we got
round in season to take enny idee o' escape ye mought hev hed out
yer head.
"We know yer air wanted mighty bad up to th' Roads, but we want
yer wuss hyur, though they air playin' inter our hands. Still, yer
54. mought give 'em th' slip. Yer can't us! But this ain't bizness.
"To say nothin' o' th' shabby way yer treated th' boys, we hev a
double puppose in gittin' yer inter our grips. Yit don't make enny
difference to ye wot it is, so long es 'tis so. Now we hev got yer, we
hev got a leetle proposition to make yer, on which yer future
happiness depends, es th' parson would say.
"'Tan't enny use fer me to deny, but we hev got our eye on thet mail
route, 'cos we think yit can be made a mighty payin' investment.
Shag wants to run in shacks with us, but we like yer grit well 'nough
to make a bargain with ye. Now, if ye'll 'gree to stand in with us, an'
do th' square thing, we'll not only give ye a shake in th' profits, but
we'll see thet ye don't hev enny trubble. All ye'll hev to do will be to
stop yer hoss long 'nough fer us to look th' baggage over. Mind ye,
we do th' sortin'. Further, we promise thet ye won't hev enny further
trubble at Six Roads, or ennywhere else. Is't a trade, younker?"
Little Snap was so amazed at this audacious scheme that at first he
could not find tongue to reply to Bird Burrnock.
"What if I refuse to enter into any such a contract?"
"Then our own safety demands thet we put ye where ye can't
trubble us enny more. But ye won't?"
"I'll not stand in with you!"
At this declaration the little knot of listeners started excitedly, and
Bird Burrnock, the leader, uttered a fearful oath.
"Then ye wanter die, younker?" he hissed.
"Of course I do not, sir! But I cannot lend my aid to any such
infamous scheme. Why, it's robbery of the worst sort, and you
cannot carry it on for any length of time without being caught."
"Thet's our lookout. Mebbe ye air shaky in thet direction, but I can
tell yer we air well heeled thet way. Why, th' most' influential citizens
o' th' Roads air in with us. There's th' judge, an' the colonel. Then,
55. too, we'll take keer o' Shag. Once more, will yer fall with th' plan, or
shall we be 'bliged to take desprit measures with yer?"
Little Snap realized that he was in the power of men who would
hesitate at nothing to carry out their unlawful purpose, and he
thought of his mother even then anxiously awaiting his return home,
and imagined the anguish she would feel upon his failure to come.
He thought of his father, so helpless to aid the others, and his
younger sister and brother, and the sorrow they would experience.
Still, with these sad reflections in his mind, and the dread
consequence if he refused to comply with the demands of his
captors plainly before him, he hesitated but a moment in his reply.
"I cannot accept your terms."
"Fetch erlong th' rope, boys," ordered Bird Burrnock, tersely. "I
reckon 'twon't take us long to change his mind."
56. CHAPTER XX.
A STARTLING DISCOVERY.
Buzzard Burrnock quickly entered one of the dark recesses of the
cavern, returning a moment later with a coil of rope on his arm.
"Make a loop in one end," commanded the elder Burrnock. "Be lively,
too, fer we don't want to fool with him hyur all day."
When the rope had been arranged to their satisfaction, the noose
was slipped over Little Snap's shoulders, so the cord encircled his
body under the arms.
"Drag him to th' pit!" cried the leader. "Reckon a leetle consideration
there'll take th' starch out'n him."
Buzzard Burrnock and Hawk seized hold of the postboy, one on
either side, and half dragging him, he was swiftly taken along a
winding passage leading from the underground room, until the sharp
voice of Bird Burrnock ordered a halt.
"Swing forward th' torch so's he can see wot's ahead," said the chief,
when Little Snap saw to his horror that he stood at the brink of a
huge fissure in the rock.
"'Tis bottomless, es fur es we know. At enny rate, it's deep 'nough to
send you into eternity. Now, boys, lower him over th' hole, an' let
him down till he says he's willin' to agree to our terms. Hev it over
es quick es possible."
"Look here!" exclaimed the postboy; "if you are in such haste and
time is so valuable to you, I will tell you how you can save this delay.