ed a
field. Short cuts are frequently dangerous. It proved so in the
present instance. The field she had invaded was the private preserve of
an old bull with a sour temper.

Beholding a female, he lowered his horrid head, cocked his tail, and
made at her. This it was that drew from poor Miss Lillycrop a yell such
as she had not uttered since the days of infancy.

Phil Maylands was swift to act at all times of emergency. He vaulted
the fence of the field, and rushed at Miss Lillycrop as if he himself
had been a bull of Bashan, and meant to try his hand at tossing her.
Not an idea had Phil as to what he meant to do. All he knew was that he
had to rush to the rescue! Between Phil and the bull the poor lady
seemed to stand a bad chance.

Not a whit less active or prompt was Peter Pax, but Peter had apparently
more of method in his madness than Phil, for he wrenched up a stout
stake in his passage over the fence.

"Lie down! lie down! O lie down!" shouted Phil in agony, for he saw
that the brute was quickly overtaking its victim.

Poor Miss Lillycrop was beyond all power of self-control. She could
only fly. Fortunately a hole in the field came to her rescue. She put
her foot into it and fell flat down. The bull passed right over her,
and came face to face with Phil, as it pulled up, partly in surprise, no
doubt, at the sudden disappearance of Miss Lillycrop and at the sudden
appearance of a new foe. Before it recovered from its surprise little
Pax brought the paling down on its nose with such a whack that it
absolutely sneezed--or something like it--then, roaring, rushed at Pax.

As if he had been a trained matador, Pax leaped aside, and brought the
paling down again on the bull's head with a smash that knocked it all to
splinters.

"Don't dodge it," shouted Phil, "draw it away from her!"

Pax understood at once. Tempting the bull to charge him again, he ran
off to the other side of the field like a greyhound, followed by the
foaming enemy.

Meanwhile Phil essayed to lift Miss Lillycrop, who had swooned, on his
shoulders. Fortunately she was light. Still, it was no easy matter to
get her limp form into his arms. With a desperate effort he got her on
his knee; with an inelegant hitch he sent her across his shoulder, where
she hung like a limp bolster, as he made for the fence. May and Tottie
stood there rooted to the earth in horror. To walk on uneven ground
with such a burden was bad enough, but