o. He's only one man, while we are two, and strong at that."

"Oho!" thought Achilles, who was now within hearing. "So my friend, the
miner, is getting valorous! Well, he will probably have a chance to test
his strength."

By this time Hayden had got through with his taunts, and was ready to
enjoy his vengeance.

"Your time has come, boy!" he said, fiercely. "Stand back, Stubbs!"

Bob Stubbs stepped back, and Dick Hayden raised the cruel cowhide in his
muscular grasp. It would have inflicted a terrible blow had it fallen on
the young acrobat. But something unexpected happened. The instrument of
torture was torn from his hands, and a deep voice, which he knew only
too well, uttered these words: "For shame, you brute! Would you kill the
boy?"

Panic stricken the brutal miner turned and found himself confronting
Achilles Henderson.

A fierce cry of rage and disappointment burst from his lips.

"Where did you come from?" he stammered.

"From Heaven, I think!" murmured poor Kit, with devout gratitude to that
overruling Providence which had sent him such a helper in his utmost
need.

CHAPTER XXXIII.

DICK HAYDEN MEETS WITH RETRIBUTION.

Dick Hayden and Bob Stubbs, large and strong men as they were, looked
puny, compared with the giant who towered beside them, his face
kindling with righteous indignation.

"What are you going to do to the boy?" he demanded, sternly.

"I was going to flog him," answered Hayden in a surly tone.

"And you were helping him?" went on Achilles, turning to Stubbs.

"No, sir," answered Stubbs eagerly, for, big as he was, he was a coward.
"I didn't want Dick to do it."

"You coward!" exclaimed Hayden, contemptuously. "You're as deep in it as
I am."

"Is that true, Kit?" asked Achilles.

"He isn't as bad as the other," said Kit. "That man Hayden thought of
killing me, but his friend protested against it."

"It shall be remembered to his credit. Why did you wish to flog the
boy?" he asked of Hayden.

"On account of what happened at the circus."

"The boy didn't touch you."

"He brought you on me."

"Then I was the one to punish."

"I couldn't get at you."

"Here I am, at your service."

Dick Harden measured the giant with a vindictive eye, but there was
something in the sight of the mighty thews and sinews of the huge man
that quelled his warlike ardor.

"It wouldn't be a fair contest," he said sullenly.

"There are two of you, as you said just before I came.