is he now?"
"What do you want of him?"
"Never you mind--I'll tell you bimeby. Where is he?"
"He wanted me to harness up and take him to Groveton."
Dick Hayden and Stubbs exchanged glances. It was evident that they had
struck Kit's trail.
"Well, did you do it?"
"No; I couldn't spare the time. Besides I wanted the horse to go to the
village. I'm going to harness up now."
"What did the boy do?"
"He walked."
"How long since did he start?"
"About half an hour or thereabouts."
Dick Hayden made a rapid calculation.
"We may overtake him if we walk fast," he said.
Without stopping to enlighten the curiosity of Mr. Stover the two men
set out rapidly on the Groveton road.
CHAPTER XXXI.
IN THE ENEMY'S HANDS.
Mr. Stover was considerably surprised when twenty minutes later, looking
up from his work in the yard, he saw a man of colossal size crossing the
street. He hadn't attended the circus, and had not therefore heard of
the giant, who was one of its principal features.
"Who in creation can that be?" Stover asked himself.
Achilles Henderson turned into the yard, and accosted the farmer:
"Good morning, friend," he said. "Can you tell me if a boy of about
sixteen has passed here this morning?"
"That boy again!" thought the bewildered farmer.
"Yes," he answered.
"Please describe him."
Mr. Stover did so.
"The very one!" said Achilles. "Now how long since was he here?"
"He took breakfast with my family, and started off nigh on to an hour
ago."
"In what direction did he go?"
This question was also answered.
"Thank you, friend," said the giant; "you have done me a favor."
"Then won't you do me one?" said Stover. "Who is this boy that so many
people are askin' for?"
"He is a young acrobat connected with Barlow's circus. But what do you
mean by so many people asking about him?"
"There was two men here twenty minutes ago, that seemed very anxious to
find him."
Achilles Henderson heard this with apprehension. He could guess who they
were, and what he heard alarmed him for Kit's safety.
"Who are they?" he inquired hastily.
"Dick Hayden and Bob Stubbs."
"Are they miners?"
"Yes."
"Did you tell them where the boy went?"
"Sartin! Why not?"
"Because they mean to do the boy a mischief; they may even kill him."
"What in creation should they do that for?"
"Mr. Stover, I must follow them at once. Have you a team?"
"Yes; but I calculated to use i
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