Stubbs, uneasily. He was a
shade less brutal and far less daring than his companion.

It can be imagined with what feelings Kit heard this colloquy. He had no
confidence in the humanity of his captors, and considered them, Dick
Hayden in particular, as capable of anything. He did not dare to
remonstrate lest in a spirit of perversity the two men might proceed to
extremities.

Kit was not long in doubt as to the intentions of his captors.

"Take off your coat, boy!" said Hayden, harshly.

Kit looked into the face of his persecutor, and decided that it would be
prudent to obey. Otherwise he would have forcibly resisted.

He removed his coat and held it over his arm.

"Lay down the coat and take off your vest," was the next order.

This also Kit felt compelled to do.

Dick Hayden produced from the capacious side pocket of his coat a cord,
which he proceeded to test by pulling. It was evidently very strong.

"Stubbs, tie him to yonder sapling!" said Dick.

Stubbs proceeded, nothing loth, to obey the directions of his leader.
Kit was tied with his back exposed. Dick Hayden watched the preparations
with evident enjoyment.

"This is the moment I have been longing for," he said.

From his other pocket he drew a cowhide, which he passed through the
fingers of his left hand, while with cruel eyes he surveyed the
shrinking form of his victim.

Meanwhile where was Achilles Henderson?

He and Stover bowled as rapidly over the road as the speed of a fourteen
year old horse would permit. He looked eagerly before him, in the hope
of catching a glimpse either of Kit or of the miners. When they started
they were far behind, but at last they reached a point on the road where
they could see Kit and his two captors making their way across the
fields.

"There they are!" said Stover, who was the first to see them.

"And they've got the boy with them!" ejaculated Achilles. "Where are
they going, do you think?"

"Over to them woods, it's likely," replied Stover.

"What for?"

"I'm afraid they mean to do the boy harm."

"Not if I can prevent it," said Achilles, with a stern look about the
mouth.

"They're goin' to give him a floggin', I think."

"They'll get the same dose in larger measure, I can tell them that. Mr.
Stover, isn't there any way I can reach the woods by a short cut so that
they won't see me?"

"Yes, there is a path in that field there. There is a fringe of trees
separatin' it from the field where they