"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.
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