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.