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                                                                   Exhibit 10.9





[TUMBLEWEED(R) COMMUNICATIONS CORP. LOGO]



                                February 21, 2001

Mr. Douglas A. Sabella
21771 Congress Hall Lane
Saratoga, CA  95070

Dear Doug,

I am pleased to confirm the offer extended to you to join Tumbleweed
Communications Corp. in the position of President and Chief Operating Officer,
reporting to me.

SALARY AND BONUS. Your starting salary will be $12,500.00 per semi-monthly pay
period, which is equivalent to $300,000.00 on an annualized basis. You will also
be eligible for a performance bonus in an amount to be determined after a
performance review that will occur no later than the first anniversary of your
employment. Until such performance review occurs you will receive minimum
non-refundable quarterly bonus payments of $12,500.00 that will be credited
against your performance bonus. All wages are subject to normal withholdings.

STOCK OPTIONS. As part of your compensation package, you will be granted stock
options to purchase 500,000 shares of Tumbleweed common stock. The stock options
are subject to a vesting schedule, whereby 25% of the options vest upon
completion of one year of employment at Tumbleweed, and the remaining options
vest monthly thereafter over a three-year period, for a total vesting period of
four years.

TERMINATION. If Tumbleweed terminates your employment for any reason other than
Cause, or in the case of a Constructive Termination, you will be entitled to
receive your base salary, target bonus, and a continuation of your health
benefits for a period of twelve (12) months, paid in accordance with
Tumbleweed's payroll practices. You will not be entitled to any additional
payments, salary, bonus, or benefits in the event of termination for Cause.

DEFINITION OF CAUSE. For purposes of this agreement, "Cause" means only: the
commission of a felony by the Executive and intended to result in your
substantial personal enrichment at Tumbleweed's expense, conviction of a crime
involving moral turpitude, or willful failure to perform your duties to
Tumbleweed, which failure is deliberate, results in injury to Tumbleweed, and
continues for more than 15 days after written notice is given to you. For
purposes of this definition, no act or omission is considered to have been
"willful" unless it was not in good faith and you had knowledge at the time that
the act or omission was not in the best interests of Tumbleweed.

DEFINITION OF CONSTRUCTIVE TERMINATION. For purposes of this agreement,
"Constructive Termination" consists of diminution of duties, change in title or
reporting relationship, change in location, reduction in base salary, and
failure of any successor to the assets or business through any change of
ownership control (as defined below) to fully assume all obligations of
Tumbleweed under this agreement.

CHANGE OF OWNERSHIP CONTROL. If a change of ownership control occurs during your
employment that results in your termination within ninety days after its
occurrence, then upon such termination, you will receive (i) one


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year's base salary and (ii) one year's acceleration of the vesting of your
then-outstanding Tumbleweed stock options. "Change of ownership control" means
any sale of all or substantially all of Tumbleweed's assets, or any merger,
consolidation, or stock sales that results in the holders of Tumbleweed's
capital stock immediately prior to such transaction owning less than 50% of the
voting power of Tumbleweed's capital stock immediately after such transaction.

REAL ESTATE LOAN. Tumbleweed shall pay on your behalf the outstanding balance of
your current employer-provided real estate loan obligation, up to a maximum
amount of $700,000, at such time and in such manner as you are currently
obligated. Upon such payment by Tumbleweed, you will sign a mutually acceptable
promissory note obligating you to repay that amount to Tumbleweed. Tumbleweed
shall forgive your repayment obligation upon the fifth anniversary of your
employment, if you are then employed by Tumbleweed and the aggregate value of
the stock and stock options you have received from Tumbleweed is less than $10
million.

BOARD OF DIRECTORS.  You will become a member of our Board of Directors.

BENEFITS PACKAGE. Beginning on the first of the month following full time
employment start date, you and your eligible dependents will be able to
participate in a comprehensive benefits program including medical, dental and
vision insurance.

Additionally, beginning on the first of the month following full time employment
start date, you will also be able to participate in other benefit programs,
including: Life and AD&D insurance; Short and Long-Term Disability insurance;
and an Employee Assistance Program. Insurance premiums for employee coverage in
benefit plans are paid 100% by Tumbleweed. Medical insurance premiums for
eligible dependents are paid approximately 80% by Tumbleweed. Vision and Dental
Insurance premiums for eligible dependents are paid 100% by Tumbleweed.

You will also be eligible to participate in a 401(k) Plan and Pre-Tax Flexible
Benefits Plan. Tumbleweed matches employee contributions to the 401(k) at 100%
up to 4% of base salary. Furthermore, you will be entitled to fifteen (15) days
of paid time off during your first year, accruing at the rate of 10 hours per
month from your date of hire, as well other paid holidays. Additionally, you
will be eligible to participate in the Tumbleweed Employee Stock Purchase Plan
and the Company Revenue Target Bonus Program (5% of quarterly base salary if
Tumbleweed meets its revenue targets for a given quarter). Dates of eligibility
for these programs are set forth in the documents governing such plans.

PROPRIETARY INFORMATION. As a condition of employment, you will be required to
sign a Proprietary Information and Inventions Agreement. You should also note
that, in accordance with federal law, you will be required to demonstrate
employment eligibility, which includes verification of your identity and of your
authorization to work in the United States.

Tumbleweed requests that you provide documentation on your first day at work and
in any event it must be provided to Tumbleweed no later than three (3) business
days of your date of hire.


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AT-WILL EMPLOYMENT. If you choose to accept this offer, please understand your
employment is voluntarily entered into and is for no specific period. As a
result, you are free to resign at any time, for any reason, or for no reason.
Similarly, Tumbleweed is free to conclude its at-will employment relationship
with you at any time, with or without cause.

Doug, we hope you agree that you have a great contribution to make to
Tumbleweed, and that you will find working here a rewarding experience. We look
forward to a favorable reply and the opportunity of working with you to create a
successful company.

To indicate your acceptance of this offer of employment, please sign and date
this confirmation form and return it to Tumbleweed. This letter, along with the
Tumbleweed Communications Employee Manual and the Plan Documents governing the
health and welfare benefit plans, which you will receive shortly, sets forth the
terms of your employment with Tumbleweed and supersedes any prior
representations or agreements, whether written or oral. The terms and conditions
in the Employee Manual and the Plan Documents are subject to change at any time
by Tumbleweed, subject to requirements of federal, state or local law. This
letter may only be modified by a written agreement signed by you and an officer
of Tumbleweed.

This offer will terminate at noon on February 22, 2001.


/s/ Jeffrey C. Smith
_______________________________
Jeffrey C. Smith
Chief Executive Officer
Tumbleweed Communications Corp.


PLEASE INDICATE ACCEPTANCE OF THIS OFFER BY RETURNING THIS FORM WITH YOUR
SIGNATURE.

I AGREE TO AND ACCEPT THE ENCLOSED OFFER OF EMPLOYMENT WITH TUMBLEWEED
COMMUNICATIONS. MY START DATE WILL BE MARCH 1, 2001.


Doug Sabella                                  2/21/01
_______________________________               __________________________________
Printed Name                                  Date


/s/ Doug Sabella
_______________________________
Signature