Little Snap was standing by the side of Jack, and about six feet from the entrance to the Hollow Tree. Bidding the horse to remain quiet, he entered the opening, upon the bottom of which lay the mail pouch.
Giving this a kick toward him, Shag returned to his retreat behind a barrier of poles with which the inclosure had been partitioned off.
"It is not here," said Little Snap, when he had hastily examined the small amount of mail matter left in the pouch.
"Then where is it?"
"I do not know."
"I should like to know if it isn't your bizness to know? I shall take the trouble to report yer at headquarters. It isn't th' fust time I have missed letters, though I hev waited to git dead evidence agin' yer afore I blowed.
"Boys, I call on yer to prove thet he 'lows th' Hollow Tree mail ain't here."
"P'raps he's got yit 'bout his duds," ventured Robin Burrnock.
"S'arch him," exclaimed one of the speaker's companions.
The four started forward as if they would carry out the intention.