“This is my new dolly,” she explained, holding the article up.

“Is it?” I asked, hardly knowing what to say.

“Yes; papa bringed it home yesterday.  Does oo like dollies?”

“Oh, yes, nice ones like that.  You must have lots of fun.  I—­”

I did not finish the sentence.  There was a noise in the alley, and the next instant the mad bull came crashing into the garden!

For a second I was too surprised to move or speak.  The little girl uttered a piercing scream, and gathering her dolls in her arms huddled into a corner of the bench.

Why the animal had followed so closely behind me I could not tell, but once in the garden, it was plain to see he was bent upon doing considerable damage.  He was more enraged than ever, and scattered the sodding about in every direction.

At first some red flowers attracted his attention, and he charged upon these with a fury that wrecked the entire flower-bed in which they were standing.

While the bull was at this work I partly recovered my senses, and then the first thought that came to my mind was the necessity of getting the little girl to a place of safety.  Let the bull once get at her, and her life might pay the penalty.  I was not many feet away from the little miss, and a few bounds took me to her side.

“Come, let me take you into the house,” I said, and picked her up.

She made no reply, but continued to scream and clung to me with all the strength of her little arms.

There was a back piazza to the mansion five or six steps high.  I knew that if we once reached this we would be safe, for no matter what the bull might do, he could not climb.

“Oh, Millie, my child!” came s voice from the house, and I saw a lady at one of the windows.  “Oh, save her!  Bring her here!” she cried, as she caught sight of the bull.

I uttered no reply, but sprang toward the steps.

But though I wasted no time, the bull was too quick for me.  Springing over the flower-bed, he planted himself directly in my path.

It made my blood run cold to have him face me with that vicious look and those glaring eyes.  One prod of those horns and all would be over.

“Oh, save Millie!  Save my child!” The lady had opened the door and now came running out upon the piazza.

“I will if I can!” I returned.  “Don’t come down here.  He’ll tear you all to pieces!”

Even as I spoke the bull made a plunge for me.  I darted to one side and sprang over to the edge of the piazza corner.

“Give her to me!  Hand her up!” exclaimed the lady, as she rushed over, and as I held the little one on my shoulder, the lady drew her up and clasped the child, dolls and all, to her breast.

Hardly had I got rid of my charge than the bull came for me again.  The trick I had played on him only served to increase his rage, and he snorted loudly.