"The fact is," resumed Kirby, "the captain's boy is an impudent cub. He was insolent to me. I could have tweaked his nose with pleasure." "There seems to be one point on which Mr. Kirby and I agree," thought Dean. But upon the whole it did not seem to him that he liked Kirby any better than Brandon Bates. Brandon had unpleasant manners, but it was clear that Kirby was a professional thief. "When is the captain coming West?" asked Dan. "Soon, I think. He may be needed for some work in Denver. I shall make a report to him when I have gathered the information we need, and urge him to come. He has brains, the captain has, and he must give us the advantage of them." "What plan are you thinkin' of Kirby?" "Hush!" said Kirby, glancing toward Dean. "I will speak with you about that later." After supper they went out again, and sat on the settee, both smoking pipes provided by Dan. Dean was invited to come out also, but he felt very much fatigued, and asked if he might go to bed. "Mother," said Dan, "can the kid go up to bed?" "Yes, if he wants to." "I'll go up with him." Dan led the way up a narrow staircase to the second floor. There were two rooms, each with a sloping roof. On the floor was spread a sacking filled with hay, one end raised above the general level. "You can sleep there, youngster," said Dan. "There's no use in undressin'. Lay down as you are." Dean was quite ready to do so. Though he was apprehensive about the future, fatigue asserted its claim, and in less than five minutes he was sound asleep. CHAPTER XXX. DEAN FINDS HIMSELF IN A HOLE. Dean seemed to himself to have slept not more than an hour, though in reality several hours passed, when he was aroused by being shaken not over gently. "Time to get up?" he asked drowsily. "Yes, it's time to get up," answered a rough voice. Now he opened his eyes wide, and he saw Kirby looking down on him. At a flash all came back to him, and he realized his position. He rose from his pallet and asked, "Can I wash my face and hands?" "No; there is no time for it. Follow me!" Rightly concluding that it would be useless to question Kirby, Dean followed him to the lower floor, where Dan had already seated himself at the breakfast-table. In obedience to a signal Dean sat down also, and ate with what appetite he could the repast spread before him. In addition to cold meat and bread there was what passed for coffee, though it probably was not even distantly related to the fragrant beverage which we know by that name. Dean drank it, however, not without relish, for it was at least hot. Fifteen minutes sufficed for breakfast, and then Dan and Kirby left the cabin, motioning to Dean to follow. Outside the cabin Kirby said, "Have you a handkerchief?" "Yes," answered Dean, wondering why such a question should be asked. "Give it to me!" Dean mechanically obeyed. Kirby took it, and, folding it, tied it over Dean's eyes. "Are we going to play blind man's buff?" asked Dean.