"Wait a minute, Bob," he said; "I'll look in at the window, and see what he is doing." Dick Hayden went around to the rear of the building, and flattened his face against the pane in the effort to see the corner where the captive had been tied. He could not see very distinctly, but what he did see startled him. He could perceive no one. "Could the boy have loosened the rope?" he asked himself hurriedly. Even in that case, as the window was nailed so that it could not be opened, and the door was bolted, there seemed no way of escape. His eyes eagerly explored other portions of the cabin, but he could not catch a glimpse of Kit. He rushed round to the front, and in an excitement which Stubbs could not understand, pulled the bolt back with a jerk. "What's the matter, Dick?" asked Stubbs, staring. Dick Hayden did not answer, but threw open the door. He strode in, and peeped here and there. "The boy's gone!" he said hoarsely, to Stubbs, who followed close behind. "Gone!" echoed Stubbs, in blank amazement. "How did he get away?" "That's the question," responded Dick, growling. "Well, I'm--flabbergasted! There's witchery here!" Dick Hayden bent over and picked up the pieces of rope which lay in the corner where the prisoner had been placed. He examined the ends, and said briefly, turning to Stubbs: "They've been cut!" "So they have, Dick. Who in natur' could have done it? Perhaps the kid did it himself. Might have had a knife in his pocket." "Don't be a fool, Stubbs! Supposin' he'd done it, how was he goin' to get out?" "That's what beats me!" "Somebody must have let him out." "Do you think it's his circus friends?" "No; they're all in Groveton. Somebody must have been passin' and heard the boy holler, and let him out." "What are you goin' to do about it, Dick?" "Goin' to sit down and take a smoke. It may give me an idea." It will be noticed that of these two, Dick Hayden, as the bolder and stronger spirit, was the leader, and Bob Stubbs the subservient follower. Stubbs was no less brutal, when occasion served, but he was not self reliant. He wanted some one to lead the way, and he was willing to follow. The two men sat down beside the cabin, and lit their pipes. Nothing was said for a time. Dick seemed disinclined to conversation, and Stubbs was always disposed to be silent when enjoying a smoke. The smoke continued for twenty minutes or more. Finally Dick withdrew the pipe from his mouth. "Well, Dick, what do you think about it? What shall we do?" inquired his friend. "I am going to foller the kid." "But you don't know where he's gone," replied Stubbs. "No; but I may strike his track. Are you with me?" "Of course I am." "Then listen to me. The one that let the boy out knows the neighborhood. The boy would naturally want to go to Groveton, and likely he would be directed to Stover. If the kid had any money, he would ask Stover to drive him over, or else he would foot it."