"Up wid 'ee, Biddy! Quick--oh, quick!" he called to her.

His white face and his piercing cry made Biddy obey him without a
thought of asking why. She clutched at the boxes, and scrambled up, and
Charley helped her by his hands and his shoulders. The boxes did not
stand even, and they tottered as she climbed, but Charley leaned his
little body against them, and stretched out his arms, and held them
steady. Biddy was not a moment too quick. As she threw herself forward
across the topmost box, the shuffle and clatter of many feet and the
shouting and screaming seemed to be all around them. Biddy could not
look down. She was so frightened, and had climbed so fast, she could
hardly breathe, but she heard a snapping and crunching of jaws and a
hoarse rattling breath beneath her. She was not able to think; she only
clung with all her might, so dizzy that it seemed as if she and the
boxes were swimming. Several shots were fired, and it seemed as if there
were more noise and confusion than before. Then some one said,

"Poor children!"

Biddy felt herself lifted down. She was shaking all over. There were a
great many people around her, but they didn't make so much noise now.
She heard some one saying,

"It's Griffith's blood-hound--a good dog enough, too, if those idle
scamps had let him alone. But it wouldn't stand no nonsense--that sort
of dog never does. By heavens! it snapped that great chain like a pipe
stem, and was after them like a tiger in no time!"

Then another voice said: "Did you see the little boy? He's almost the
smallest little fellow you ever saw. But he was a hero. He saved the
little girl's life; he gave up his own for it. I saw and heard the whole
thing from the window overhead here, and I'll never see a braver deed
done. I tell you, he's a hero; his father can be proud of him."

"_His_ father!" said another and rougher voice. "_That_ boy hain't got
anyone belongin' to _him_. Take a look at his clothes--what's left of
'em from that brute's teeth! _He's_ never had too much to eat nor too
much to wear, you kin just bet yer life on that. But you're right,
mister; he _was_ a hero, an' no' mistake. He held as still as a mouse,
an' with a grip like death, while that durned critter chawed up his
legs."

Biddy was beginning to understand; so were the other children, the
little boys and girls who had known and laughed at and nicknamed Charley
all his silent, bashful life.

They stood around, gazing horror