, take my hand!"

It was a vain hope. On closer examination the supposed stile proved to
be only part of a fence. The meadow was surrounded by a quickset hedge,
so thick as to be an insuperable barrier.

"I must have taken the wrong turning, after all," said Honor blankly.
"What a fearful nuisance! We shall have to go back."

"It's all very well to say 'go back'!" exclaimed Lettice, turning and
clutching at Honor's arm. "Look at what is in front of us!"

Honor stopped short as suddenly as her companion. Directly facing them
was a large bull: it had been feeding in the ditch when they entered
the field, and thus they had not perceived its presence; but now it had
walked across, and was standing exactly opposite the gate, completely
cutting off their return to the footpath.

"Perhaps it mayn't be really savage," said Honor, with a slight quiver
in her voice. "Shall we walk a little nearer, and see if it takes any
notice of us?"

"No! No! Don't!" implored Lettice. "I'm terrified even of cows, and
this is a monster. I'm sure it's dangerous--it has a ring in its nose!"

Honor looked round the pasture in dismay. She felt as if they were
caught in a trap. How were they to make their escape while that huge
beast stood between them and safety?

"We'd better go to the hedge again," she said. "Perhaps there may be
some little hole where we can scramble through into the next field."

They beat a cautious retreat, not daring to run from fear that they
might attract the bull's attention. But the farmer had mended his
fences only too well; they did not find the smallest opening, search as
they would.

"What are we to do?" demanded Lettice distractedly. "We can't stay all
night in the field, yet if we call for help that creature will come
rushing at us. Oh, Honor, look! It's seen us now!"

The bull had certainly become aware of their proximity. It was gazing
at them in an uneasy fashion, sniffing the air, and pawing the ground
restlessly. It gave a roar like the growling of thunder, and began to
walk slowly in their direction. With white faces, the girls backed
nearer the fence. Perhaps the heat, or the flies, or the unusual
appearance of two strangers in its meadow irritated the animal, for
again it gave a loud, rumbling bellow, and, lowering its horns, made
straight for the intruders. Shrieking with fright, Honor and Lettice
plunged into the hedge, scrambling anyhow through quickset and
brambles, scratching their hands a