Mr. Rimmon had meanwhile ordered his own horse to be saddled, and was ready to start in quest of the missing boy, as Dan Shag returned to the post office, accompanied by Justice Claverton and Morton Meiggs.
"Reckon I'll take thet mail bag now," said Shag, with a sort of grim humor in his looks. "Ye hev kept me waitin' quite a spell."
Mr. Rimmon glanced hastily at the speaker and his companions, and then toward the half dozen horsemen who were to go with him, before he said:
"I am sorry to be obliged to refuse your request, Mr. Shag, but the fact is I cannot recognize you."
"Wot's thet mean?" gasped the amazed man.
"Let me say a word," interposed Claverton. "Aren't you getting into rather deep water, Mr. Rimmon?"
"I am a good swimmer, judge, and——"
"Hold on! that isn't the idee at all. Dix Lewis is out of the mail business, and I have in my official capacity appointed Mr. Shag mail carrier on the Kanawha route. Haven't I the authority in my official capacity to do so?"
"I haven't time in my present situation to argue that point, but I will say that I am not going to be governed by your order at this time.
"Come, men, if you are ready for a start, we will not delay any longer. Bid Mrs. Lewis to be of good cheer, and assure her that we will send her word as soon as we have learned anything in regard to his fate.