"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." "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.