"

"No, there are not," interposed Stubbs, hastily. "I hain't any grudge
against you, Mr. Giant."

"You are willing to help me?"

"Yes."

"Then untie that boy."

Stubbs unloosed the cord that bound Kit to the tree, while Achilles
Henderson watched Hayden narrowly, for he had no mind to let him go
free.

"Are you that man's slave?" asked Hayden.

"I am willing to oblige him," said Stubbs, meekly.

Kit straightened up on being released, and breathed a sigh of relief.

"Come along, Stubbs," said Hayden, with an ugly look at Kit and his
protector. "Our business is through."

"Not quite," said Achilles, quietly, as he laid his broad hand with a
detaining grasp on the shoulder of the ruffian. "I am not through with
you."

"What do you want?" asked Dick Hayden with assumed bravado, but with an
uneasy look on his lowering face.

"I am going to give you a lesson. I gave you one at the circus ground,
but you need another."

"Touch me if you dare!" said Hayden, defiantly.

For answer, Achilles hurled him to the ground with less effort than
Hayden would have needed to serve Kit in the same way. Then with the
cowhide uplifted he struck the prostrate wretch three sharp blows that
made him howl with rage and pain. Stubbs looked on with pale face,
thinking that his turn might come next.

"Hit him, Stubbs! Kill him!" screamed Dick Hayden. "Would you stand by
and see me murdered?"

"I can't help you," said Stubbs. "What can I do?"

Having administered justice to the chief ruffian, Achilles turned to
Stubbs.

"Now," he said, "what have you to say for yourself? Why shouldn't I
serve you in the same way?"

"Spare me!" whined Stubbs, panic stricken. "I am the boy's friend. It
was Hayden who wanted to hurt him."

"My friend, I put very little confidence in what you say. Still I don't
think you are as bad as this brute here. I will spare you on one
condition."

"What is it? Indeed, I will do anything you ask."

"Then take this cowhide and give your companion a taste of its quality."

Stubbs looked alarmed.

"Don't ask me to do that," he said. "Me and Dick are pals."

"Just as I supposed. In that case you require a dose of the same
medicine," and Achilles made a threatening demonstration with the
rawhide.

"Don't do it," cried Stubbs, affrighted.

"Then will you do as I say?"

"Yes, yes."

"Will you lay it on well?"

"Yes," answered Stubbs, who, forced to choose between his own skin and
Hayden's, was