His head seen as capacious as an iron tank, and every inch of it held a special and independent ache.

The Missing Link was trying to think.
Understanding came in a flash.

He had been stolen from the show.

These rascals had given him hocussed rum, and had got him away, probably tied to one of the horses.

His aching limbs hinted at that, and he could see the horses grazing among the trees.
Nickie reviewed the situation.