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With the instinct that characterizes dogs, horses and other animals, Sunger knew that he must go on to the Post Office. Just what had happened to his master, of course Sunger did not know. But it was something wrong the pony sensed that. And so with the unconscious form strapped to the saddle, with Jack's head pillowed on Sunger's neck, the plucky animal started to foil the plans of the plotters.
From where he was, Ryan could not see the device of ropes Jack had used to prevent falling from the back of his pony during his unconsciousness. The outlaw merely thought that Jack was only partly under the influence of the drug, and that the youth was clinging with his arms about Sunger's neck. "I wonder if I can ride him down?" mused the desperate man. "I've just got to, that's all.
This was admitted, and Mr. Bailey was cleared of all blame in the matter. It was Tantrell, too, who loosened the planks in the bridge, just as Jack suspected. "Well, that makes me feel fine!" Mr. Bailey said, when the good news came to him. "It's all your doings, Jack, catching that fellow!" "No, it's Sunger's," Jack said, with a laugh.
We've got to do something 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 outlaw who had played this trick on him was coming 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.
Then his heart smote him as he saw the motionless figure beside the trail. Pausing only a moment to caress his recovered pony, Jack hastened to the side of the man who had been thrown off by Sunger's sudden stopping. The fellow was a stranger to Jack, who could not tell whether or not he was the post office robber.
And a short distance ahead was a place on the trail where the suspect could escape by a side path. "Here goes!" murmured Jack. In his loudest voice he cried out: "Whoa, Sunger!" Something happened at once. The pony, which had been running his best in order not to let the horse behind pass him, pulled up so short that the man was flung with great force from the saddle, and over Sunger's head.
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