"The day o' reckonin' ain't fur off, Dix Lewis, so carry a high hand while ye can."
As he had promised, Mr. Calvert accompanied the postboy on his trip as far as Salt Works and return, though nothing occurred to hint of any further trouble.
The following day the contractor left for Washington, while Little Snap started on his daily route alone.
Naturally, he never rode through the Wash Bowl and along the Narrows without recalling his startling experiences there and looking sharply about him.
Thus an uneventful week passed, until one afternoon, after having met and passed Old Solitaire at his lonely vigil, he was suddenly made aware that his battle was not over.
Descending into the Bowl with his usual caution, he was passing a particularly lonely place in the road, where an overhanging rock nearly touched his head as he rode along, when his attention was attracted by a shrill cry off to his right and lower down the basin.
Turning for a moment to look in that direction, he was just in season to catch a glimpse of the mail pouch as it was being whisked out of sight over his head!
Stopping Jack with a sudden jerk of the rein, it was fully a minute before the surprised postboy could comprehend what had taken place.
CHAPTER XXVI.
A LIFE FOR A LIFE.
Little Snap, it is safe to say, was never more thoroughly surprised in his life.