The bull had turned toward the fence, and watching his chance, Dick struck out with the bit of rail.  His aim was good and the animal received a sharp blow directly across the nostrils.  Then Sam and Tom let fly more stones, and the bull was hit in the mouth, the leg, and the side.  He stood his ground for a moment and then began to retreat.

“Hurrah! we’ve got him on the run!” cried Tom.  “Give it to him!” and he let go another stone, which hit the bull in the tail and made him throw up his rear hoofs in a most alarming fashion.

“You had better come over into the lot!” said one of the girls.  “He may come back.”

“Here comes Mr. Klem with a pitchfork,” said the other.

A farmer was rushing down the road, with a pitchfork in one hand and a rope in the other.  He ran up to the bull and slipped the rope over the animal’s neck.  Then he tied the creature to a tree.

“Pretty savage animal you’ve got,” observed Tom as he came up.

“Is them gals hurt?” demanded the farmer.

“I don’t think so.  But they are pretty well out of breath and scared.”

“Don’t know how the pesky critter got loose,” said Isaac Klem.  “First thing I see he was after them gals lickety-split.  I was out hayin’, and I didn’t wait, but picked up a pitchfork and a rope and run.”

“The girls lost their hats,” said Sam, who had also come up.

“Yes, they’re in the road up yonder, along with a basket o’ stuff they had.”

“Let us get the things,” said Sam, and he and Tom started after the hats and the basket.  The things which had been in the basket were scattered in all directions, and the boys picked them up.

Dick remained with the girls, doing what he could to quiet them.  They were so exhausted they could not stand and each sat on a rock panting for breath.

“It was simply dreadful!” declared Helen.  “I thought every moment the bull would catch me and toss me up into the air.”

“He didn’t like the sight of your red shirt-waists,” was Dick’s comment.

“That must be it,” put in Alice.  “After this, I don’t think I’ll go near him when I have a red waist on.”

“Perhaps the farmer will be more careful and keep him roped up.”

When Tom and Sam came up with the hats and the basket Isaac Klem accompanied them.

“All right, Helen?” he asked.  “And you too, Alice?”

“Yes, Mr. Klem,” said the tall girl.  “But it was a narrow escape.  The bull would have gored us if it hadn’t been for these young gentlemen.”

The girls thanked Tom and Sam for what they had brought.

“Who be you young fellows?” asked Isaac Klem curiously.

“I am Dick Rover, and these are my brothers Tom and Sam.  We belong to the cadets of Putnam Hall.”

“The young sodgers up to Bass Lake?”

“Yes.”

“I see.  Well, it was gritty o’ you to face my bull, and I give ye credit for it.  My name’s Isaac Klem, and thet’s my farm over yonder.  These gals is Helen and Alice Staton, and they live down the road a piece.”