"Well, Jack, nothing is left for us but to go on," which he did, without meeting any further adventure until Greenbrier was reached.
Delivering the mail pouch over to the postmistress, he then sought Mr. Renders, who listened with unfeigned wonder to his account of his meeting with Robin Burrnock in the Wash Bowl.
"Egad, Dix! that was a tough one, but I don't doubt your story. I will speak to Squire Moran, and we will go up at once to look after the body. You may be wanted later to give your evidence at the inquest, but I don't apprehend you will have any further trouble. Better keep a sharp lookout, though, for those hounds of Blazed Acre will be likely to pay you off for getting rid of one of their number."
Thanking him, the postboy returned to the post office for the mail.
"Any trouble to-day, Dix?" asked Budd Grass, who seemed to divine that something unusual had been happening.
"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?"