Part 21 (2/2)

That's what Ryan counts on He thinks I'll fall by the wayside and he can coet what he wants when I'ent letters, of course That's what he's after! He's drugged iveto rob the ent letters must be in the sacks that aren't opened He must have found that out in some way, and have been on the watch for et the aloud, and trying to put soy into his voice But it died away faintly

”How can I stop hi rider ”I--I've got to do soer Go on, Sunger! Go on!”

For the pony had stopped again

Jack wanted desperately to get a drink fro, but he dared not

”If I leave the saddle I'd not have strength to get up in it again,” he reasoned ”But I've got to do so!”

He repeated the words over and over again, until they rang in his nuer did not knohat to , and whinnied once or twice But Jack was too ill to answer hier, we've got to do so to save the mail!” whispered the poor lad He was too weak to do more than whisper

Jack tried to listen, and to ascertain if the outlaho had played this trick on hi behind him on the trail, for he realized that Ryan would soon follow, to reap the fruits of his villany But there was no sound save the echo of Sunger's hoof-beats It was getting late in the afternoon

Jack was reeling in the saddle now He could hardly hold hiht

Once or twice he nearly fell out, but clutched the pommel in tied hi Golden Crossing, or in so after him But there was not e would not be along for soht of what it would mean to him to have the mail robbed a second time while in his possession, a desperate plan came into Jack's mind

”I'll tie ot plenty of rope for that I'll lash et unconscious, which I' to happen, I won't fall out

”And when I tieas loudly as he could; ”when I'o on and carry the h to Jennie at Golden Crossing, and you've got to do it without ot to take the h! It's the only way to save it!”

Jack felt that it was useless longer to try to fight off the effects of the drug It was too strong and powerful for hiiven a heavy dose He could hardly see now

Jack carried with hi rope for often he had to tie mail pouches on the saddle behind hi terribly, and his eyes burning, Jack irths, several turns of the rope He made himself fast in the saddle, so he would not fall off

Then, when the last knot had been tied and made secure, Jack fell forward on his pony's neck

”Go on, Sunger!” he said feebly ”Go on to Jennie and Golden Crossing It's ot to run now as you never ran before! You've got to carry the er! Don't fail er! Go on!”

With this last urging Jack's eyes closed, and he felt hi off into unconsciousness

Then the brave and intelligent Sunger sprang forward Somehow the pony must have understood At any rate, he knew that all hastethe ed him to top speed on such occasions

With the instinct that characterizes dogs, horses and other anio on to the Post Office Just what had happened to hiswrong--the pony sensed that

And so with the unconscious forer's neck, the plucky anialloped over thesafe because of the holding ropes