are walkin'."

"Then stop your horse, and I'll jump out!"

Mr. Stover did so with alacrity. He disliked both Dick Hayden and Bob
Stubbs, whom he had reason to suspect of carrying off a dozen of his
chickens the previous season. He had not dared to charge them with it,
knowing the men's ugly disposition, and being certain that they would
revenge themselves upon him.

"Do you want me along, Mr. Giant?" he asked.

"No; I'm more than a match for them both."

"Shouldn't wonder if you were," chuckled Stover.

He kept his place in the wagon and laughed quietly to himself.

"I'd like to see the scrimmage," he said to himself.

With this object in view he drove forward, so that from the wagon seat
he could command a view of the scene of conflict.

"They're tying the boy to a tree," he said. "I reckon the giant'll be in
time, and I'm glad on't. That boy's a real gentleman. Wonder what he's
done to rile Dick Hayden and Bob Stubbs. He'd have a mighty small show
if the giant hadn't come up. Dick's a strong man, but he'll be like a
child in the hands of an eight-footer."

Meanwhile Achilles Henderson was getting over the ground at the rate of
ten miles an hour or more. His long strides gave him a great advantage
over an ordinary runner.

"If they lay a hand on that boy I pity 'em!" he said to himself.

It was fortunate for Kit that Dick Hayden, like a cat who plays with a
mouse, paused to gloat over the evident alarm and uneasiness of his
victim, even after all was ready for the punishment which he proposed to
inflict.

"Well, boy, what have you to say now?" he demanded, drawing the cowhide
through his short stubby fingers.

"I have nothing to say that will move you from your purpose, I am
afraid," replied poor Kit.

"I guess you're about right there, kid!" chuckled Hayden. "Are you ready
to apologize to me for what you done over to the circus?"

"I don't think there is anything to apologize for."

"There isn't, isn't there? Didn't you bring that long-legged ruffian on
to me?"

"I was only doing my duty," said Kit, manfully.

"Oho! so that's the way you look at it, do you?"

"Yes, sir."

"No doubt you'd like it if that tall brute were here now," said Hayden,
tauntingly.

"Yes," murmured Kit; "I wish my good friend Achilles were here."

"So that's his name, is it? Well, I wouldn't mind if he were here.
Stubbs, I think you and I could do for him, eh?"

"I don't know," said Stubbs, dubiously.

"Well I d