At the first opportunity Little Snap inquired of Mr. Rimmon concerning the letters, to learn that there were really three less than had passed through the offices on his route as far as Greenbrier to his knowledge.
"Why, there were six, Mr. Rimmon, started from Loop, and Budd Grass said there were as many at her office."
"What! That don't seem possible," replied Mr. Rimmon, in great surprise. "Who would dare to stop them?"
"That is what is puzzling me."
"Say, Dix," cried the postmaster, abruptly, "if I were you I wouldn't mention this to any one else. Don't you see, it looks bad for you."
"But I haven't had the handling of them."
"I know; but at the same time it might cause a suspicion against you. I hope they will come to-morrow. I won't say anything about them, and we will see what a day brings forth."
Not wishing to give his mother any unnecessary alarm, Little Snap said nothing of the missing letters at home, though he was troubled not a little in his mind concerning their fate.
Mr. Rimmon did not mention them the following morning, nor did any of the other postmasters on his route, so nothing disturbed the even tenor of his trip, until he was entering the gloomy region of the Devil's Wash Bowl and thoughts of the Burrnocks of Blazed Acre succeeded those of the missing letters.
Naturally enough Little Snap's gaze was fixed upon the rugged scene ahead, with that intentness born of the intuition of danger. He was passing that point in the descent into the Bowl where for a few minutes the craggy heights would be hidden from his view, when he was surprised to see a white speck appear for a moment upon the dark background.