Harry Thorne, who had his berth next to Kit, turned in rather late. He looked into Kit's bed, and to his surprise found it unoccupied. "What can have become of the boy?" he asked himself. He went outside, and espying Achilles Henderson, he said: "Have you seen anything of Kit Watson?" "Isn't he in his berth?" asked Mr. Henderson, surprised. "No." Inquiry developed the fact that Kit had not been seen by any one since the conclusion of his act. "I am afraid the boy has come to harm," said Achilles. "This is a rough place, and there are plenty of tough characters about, as our experience this afternoon showed." "What shall we do? The cars will soon be starting, and we must leave him behind." "If he doesn't show up before that time, I will stay behind and hunt him up. He is too good a boy to be left to his fate." CHAPTER XXVII. A MINER'S CABIN. Kit's principal captor was known as Dick Hayden. He was an Englishman, and a leader in every kind of mischief. If there was any disturbance between the miners and their employers, he was generally found to be at the bottom of it. A naturally quarrelsome disposition was intensified by intemperance. In the attack upon the circus tents he found himself in his element. His ignominious defeat made him ugly and revengeful. His wife was dead, but he had one child, Janet, a girl of thirteen, who cooked for him and took care of his cabin. The poor girl had a hard time of it, but she endeavored so far as possible to avoid trouble with her brutal parent. It was near ten o'clock when Hayden came home after locking Kit in the deserted cabin. He had gone away without supper, but late as it was, Janet had something hot ready for him on the stove. "Well, Janet, child, have you my supper ready?" he said, not unpleasantly, for his victory over Kit and the meditated revenge of the next day had put him in good humor. "Yes, father; it's on the stove and ready to dish up." "Lay the table, then, for I'm main tired and hungry." The little girl quickly spread the cloth, and Dick Hayden ate like a voracious animal. When supper was over he sat back in his chair and lit a pipe. A comfortable supper made him loquacious. "Well, Janet, you don't ask where I've been." "Was it to the circus, father?" "Yes." "How did you like the show?" "I didn't see it," he growled, a frown gathering upon his brow. "And why not, father?" "Because we had a fight to get in free, and got the worst of it." "They must be main strong, then, those circus men." "Strong!" repeated Hayden, scornfully. "Well, mayhap they are, but we'd have bested them but for the giant." "The giant! Is it the big man I saw in the parade?" "Yes; he's as strong as three men. He flung me down as easily as I'd throw a boy." "Then he must have been strong, for you're a powerful man, father." "There isn't a man as works in the mine'll compare with me, lass," said Hayden, proudly; "but all the same I'm no match for a monster."