Bub Dick's goal did not look very promising, as he drew near. A pall of smoke hung low over the narrow streets, tall chimneys sent black clouds into the biting air, and there was the clang and whirl of machinery, and the throb of huge hammers going on all the time. He was entering the town by the least inviting road. On one side were rows of miserable houses with broken windows and grimy walls and doors, that looked as if all their brightness had gone into the smart public-houses on each corner. On the other side stretched a piece of waste land, where iron clinkers and slag lay in great heaps, and rubbish of all kinds was deposited. Not a blade of grass or 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.