pertinaciously.
"You won't kill him?"

"Well, I won't go so far as that, for I've no mind to put my neck in a
noose, but I'll flog him within an inch of his life. I'll teach him to
mind his own business for the future."

Janet knew her father's strength and brutality, and she shuddered at the
idea of the boy being exposed to it. She knew very well it would be of
no use to make a protest. She would only get herself into trouble. Yet
she couldn't reconcile herself to the thought of poor Kit being cruelly
punished. She asked herself what she could do to prevent it.

There was one thing in favor of a rescue. She knew where Kit was
confined. If it were not so late she would steal out, and going to the
cabin relieve him from captivity. But it was too late, and too dark for
that. Besides, she could not leave her father's cabin without
observation.

"I will wait till to-morrow morning," she said to herself.

It so chanced that on account of some slight repairs the mine in which
her father was employed was shut down for a few days. This was
favorable, for he would lie in bed till eight o'clock at least, and
there would be a chance to get out without observation.

The next morning, about five o'clock, Janet rose from her bed, hastily
dressed herself, and crept to the door of her father's chamber. He was
sound asleep, and breathing heavily. There was small chance of his
awakening before seven o'clock.

Janet took a little meat and bread in a tin pail, for she thought the
captive might be in need of breakfast, and then, putting a sharp knife
in her pocket to cut the ropes that bound him, she left the house and
took her way over the hill to the deserted cabin which served as Kit's
prison.

CHAPTER XXVIII.

KIT RESCUED BY A GIRL.

Kit had succeeded in getting a little sleep during the night, but his
position was necessarily constrained and he was but very slightly
refreshed. Moreover he was a prey to anxiety, for he did not know what
fate awaited him on the succeeding day.

At four o'clock in the morning a little light found its way into the
cabin through a small window at the rear. The other windows were boarded
up.

Kit, appreciating the desirability of escaping before a visit should be
made him by his captors, tried hard to work himself out of his bonds,
but only succeeded in confining himself more closely than before.

"What will they do to me?" he asked himself anxiously.

He had heard from some of th