Part 27 (1/2)

He did not want to believe it, but there was nothing else to do. The masked robber had made his escape on Jack's speedy mount.

By this time all those living in the vicinity of the post office were aroused. They came, hastily dressed, mostly men and boys, to crowd into the small place and look at the wrecked safe.

”That job was done by professionals all right,” said the town marshal.

”That's no amateur work. He just put some of the nitroglycerine in a crack between the door and the casing, or maybe in a hole he bored, and touched it off with a fuse. Yes, it was a neat job.”

”Neat!” Jock exclaimed, rather indignantly. ”When he took that valuable package? Neat!”

”Oh well, you know what I mean,” the marshal said. ”Now, boys, we've got to get these fellows, and get after them hard!”

”I only saw one,” Jack put in.

”Well, he probably had confederates. Now, boys, get your horses and we'll hit the trail. There's only two he could take, and we'll cover 'em both.

You come along, too, Jack, that is if you feel able. I see you got a cut on your head.”

Jack put up his hand. It came away b.l.o.o.d.y, and Jennie screamed.

”It's only a little cut where I fell, when the force of the explosion knocked me down,” Jack said. Up to then, so great had been the excitement, he had not been aware of the slight injury.

”Well get on your pony then, and come along,” the marshal urged him. ”We'll want you to identify the fellow if we catch him. That is if you can.”

”I'm not sure I could,” Jack said. ”I only saw his back, and he wore a mask.”

”Well, come along anyhow. Hop on your pony and--”

”I can't!” Jack exclaimed. ”The fellow took Sunger!”

”He did!” the marshal cried. ”Well, now we certainly must get him! If he's a horse thief, as well as a safe-blower we sure will get him! Scatter, boys! Be lively! Jack, I'll lend you a horse. Come on now. Jim Hickey, you lead one bunch over the Tuckerton trail, and I'll head another on the road to Rainbow Ridge. But most likely the fellow will take to the mountains and hide out for a spell.”

”He won't be very likely to go to Rainbow Ridge,” said Jack.

”Why not?”

”Because he's got a valuable package of letters and mining doc.u.ments addressed to Mr. Argent of that place. He wouldn't go there.”

”I don't know,” returned the marshal. ”He wouldn't stay there, but he might go through that way.”

It did not take long to organize two posses, and Jack went with the one led by the marshal. The young express rider bestrode a borrowed steed, and though it was good enough, as horses go, it was not at all like his beloved Sunger.

”I wonder if I'll ever get him back,” mused the lad, as he trotted along beside the others.

”A measly horse thief!” muttered the marshal. ”We'll get him if it takes a year.”

In the West horse-stealing is a crime almost on a par with killing; for out there a man's life often depends on his horse, and if a thief takes the horse away he may also be responsible for the death of the man. That is why horse-stealing is visited with such swift and sure vengeance when the culprit is caught.

Since there was a moon that night, there was fairly good light to see to follow the mountain trails. The robber had not much of a start, but he was riding Jack's fleet pony, and that, in itself, meant a great deal, for there were few horses in that part of the country who could distance him.