Part 11 (2/2)

He knew every inch of the trail Near the spot where he as a hole in the side of the hill where soold one far before he discovered that iron pyrites was the only ”gold” in that locality The hole was never filled up, and was now alrowth of underbrush

”That's the place for me,” Jack mused A few strides took him to it, and he stepped in to await, in conceal horse ca hebeast But there came no outcry, which would have followed in that case

”It can't be dead leaves,” mused the lad, ”it doesn't feel that way

What--”

He stooped down and felt with his hands A thrill ran through him

”The mail pouches!” he exclaimed in a hoarse whisper ”The mail pouches the robbers took from me! They hid them here, and I've found them! What luck!”

CHAPTER XI

DUMMY LETTERS

Jack was so overjoyed at his queer and unexpected discovery that, for thehorseht to him

”Perhaps the pouches are empty! If the rascals have taken all the mail out and just thrown the ereat discovery after all!”

Once more he felt of the pouches in the darkness He could tell that they ell filled--almost the same as when he had tied them to his saddle

”I don't believe they opened thehtened and thrown the to come back for them when they had the chance”

Then he had another idea

”And thatback to get the pouches What shall I do?”

There was but one answer to that question--he must hide the mail and express matter in so hoof-beats were nearer now, but it would still be some time before the riders would be opposite the old mine hole The trail wound in and out at this point, and while sounds cah the rarefied mountain air, bodies theot five ht up the ers and wrists hurt hiround well Back of the hole was a slope that extended to a deep patch of woods Jack would hide himself and the mail in there

He was too excited to notice whether or not the locks on the bags had been tampered with In fact he could not see in the dark and he had no tis under his arood tiround was rough, and Jack hiht

He found a good hiding place down in between two big logs, and there he stuffed thethem over with dried leaves Then he hurried back to the hole to get the express stuff

Fortunately that was light, this trip, and he could easily carry the few small parcels that had been entrusted to hies were accepted by the pony riders The mail was their chief concern

So Jack had no trouble in carrying the sacks of expressplace This done he had only to watch to see who the approaching riders ht be

Jack worked quickly, and when he had taken the last of his recovered stuff to the place between the two logs he sat down in such a position that he had a view of the trail It was getting lighter now, for the daas at hand There was a faint glow in the east

”Well, I certainly have put in a night of it!” Jack thought ”And Iback They may look for their stuff, andBut I don't believe they'll find me”