tree could be seen, and the children playing
and quarrelling together were as dingy as the dirt they played with.

Two big lads were standing by the edge of a dark pool, not far from the
roadside, laughing at something that wriggled in their hands.

Suddenly a little girl darted across and snatched at this, crying,
"It's my kitty! It's mine, I tell you. Give her to me, she's mine!"

But the cruel tormenter only held the kitten higher, and showed the
string and the stone his companion was tying to her neck.

The little girl screamed aloud, and flung herself upon him in a vain
attempt to reach the kitten, which was mewing pitifully. In her
excitement she was in great danger of falling into the black water.

"Now then, one, two, three, and----" Before he could finish and throw
the captive in, Dick had sprung to the rescue.

"For shame! How can you be such a coward?" he cried, seizing the
outstretched arm of the bully so fiercely that he released his hold.

"And who are you, I should like to know? Take that for interfering!"
And he flung out his clenched fist for a terrific blow.

[Illustration: "'TAKE THAT FOR INTERFERING!'"]

But Lionheart was too quick for him, darting aside he dodged the blow
and at the same moment snatched the kitten and pushed her into the
child's outstretched arms. The other coward had drawn back at Pat's
threatening growl. The dog looked fierce enough for anything, and when
he saw the blow aimed at his master he seized the bully by the leg and
held him fast.

What might have happened next cannot be told, for at that moment the
little girl raised a joyous shout. "Daddy, oh, daddy, come quick!
Here, daddy!"

At her eager cry a man hurrying down the road stopped and then ran to
the pool.

"Nellie, where have you been, and what's all this?"

"It's my kitty, daddy, they were going to drown her, and this boy and
his doggie saved her life."

And with tears and smiles together the child clung to her father and
hugged the almost suffocated kitten in her pinafore.

"Jem Whatman, at your cowardly pranks again! How dare you touch the
kitten?"

At this moment, as if conscious that able reinforcements had come, Pat
let go the mouthful of cloth, and without stopping to reply Jem darted
away after his companion, muttering threats as he went.

"You are a brave boy to tackle two bullies at once in that fashion,"
said the father kindly as he swung the little girl up in his strong
arms.