CHAPTER XX
THE ROVER BOYS AND THE BULL
About an hour after Lew Flapp and his cronies left camp, Dick Rover and his brothers received permission to do likewise.
"Let us go to the village," suggested Tom. "I want to buy some cough drops. My throat is raw from the wet weather."
"And I want to get some reading matter," added Sam. "A good story of some sort would just suit me."
"I wouldn't mind a magazine or two myself," came from Dick. "But I don't know if Oakville can supply them."
They were soon on the way, each in the best of spirits. Tom began to whistle and his brothers joined in.
"Feelin' putty good," queried a farmer, who chanced to be leaning over his garden gate as they passed.
"Why not?" retorted Tom. "It's better to whistle than to cry."
"Right you are, young man. When one of my hands is whistling I always know he is pitchin' in."
The way lay over a hill and around a bend where a number of apple trees lined the road. The apples were within easy reach, and soon each was chewing on the juicy fruit to his heart's content.
"Wonder where Flapp and his crowd went," came presently from Tom.
"If they went to Oakville they most likely visited the tavern," answered Dick.
"It's a shame!" declared Tom. "Drinking and smoking and playing cards will never do them any good."
Another bend in the road was passed and they came within sight of Isaac Klem's farm.
"Hullo!" ejaculated Sam, pointing ahead. "What's the matter?"
"Those girls are running for all they are worth!" said Dick.
"A bull is after them!" came from Tom. "My stars! but he seems to mean business!"
Tom was right, Helen and Alice Staton were running along the highway at all the speed they could command. Behind them, less than fifty feet distant, was the enraged black bull, bent on doing all the mischief possible.
"Those girls will be hurt!" said Dick, running forward.
"Can't we do something?" asked Sam.
"We can try," said Tom. "Get a rock, or something," and he picked up a sharp stone which lay handy. Sam did likewise.
By this time the twins were almost upon the boys.
"Chase the bull away!" panted Helen, who was ready to drop from exhaustion.
"Yes! yes!" gasped Alice. "Please don't let him touch us!"
"Jump the fence!" said Dick. "Quick, I'll help you over!"
He caught each girl by the hand and turned to ward the low stone fence. At the same time Tom and Sam let fly the two sharp stones. One took the bull in the nose and the other struck the creature in the eye.
With a snort the animal came to a halt and viewtd the boys curiously. He had evidently not expected the attack, and the wound in the eye httrt not a little. Tom and Sam lost no time in providing themselves with more stones.
By this time Dick was at the wall and in ananother moment he had assisted the girls over. Both had lost their hats and also dropped the market basket filled with things from the store.
"Oh, be careful," said Alice. "That bull will try to kill you."
"We'll look out for ourselves," answered Dick, and picked up a bit of fence rail lying near. "Did he chase you far?"
"From that lot yonder," answered Helen.
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 re ceived 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 pant ing 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."
The boys tipped their caps and the girls smiled.
"We are very thankful to you," said Alice and Helen, almost in a breath.
"You are welcome to the little I did," returned Dick.
"It was fun to pelt the old bull with rocks," put in Tom. "I'll do as much for you any time," and this caused a laugh.
Isaac Klem went off to drive his bull home and the girls also prepared to depart.
"When you are coming back this way you can stop at our house if you wish," said Alice Staton. "It's the yellow one with honeysuckle growing over the porch."
"I remember it," said Sam. "Thank you," and the others also gave thanks for the invitation. A moment later the two parties separated.
"What a difference between those cadets and the ones we met at the store," said Helen to her twin sister when they were out of hearing.
"Yes, indeed," said Alice. "The Rovers are gentlemen, while those at the store were—were rude."
"Two nice girls," declared Tom. "How much alike their faces are!"
"Tom is smitten," cried Sam. "Going to forget all about Nellie Laning, Tom?" he went on quizzically.
"Oh, you needn't talk!" cried Tom, growing red in the face. "You were just as attentive as a dancing master yourself."
"Don't quarrel about it," put in Dick good naturedly. "You can be pleasant to them without forgetting all about Grace and Nellie Laning, I think."
"Or Dora Stanhope either," put in Sam slyly. "Shall we stop at the house on the way back?"
"Why not? They may offer us a piece of pie," said Tom.
"I don't know. We can walk by slowly. They may be on the lookout for us, you know."
Once again the boys set their faces toward Oakville, and soon reached the outskirts of the town.
They were passing some of the stores when Lew Flapp caught sight of them.
"Hullo!" cried the tall boy. "I declare! there are the three Rover brothers. What brought them to Oakville?"
"We had better not let them see us with this stuff," said Pender hurriedly. "We'll get into hot water if they do."
They lost no time in putting their purchases out of sight. Then they walked out on the street and stood leaning against the posts of a wooden awning.
"There is Flapp and his crowd now," said Tom, catching sight of the trio.
"We want nothing to do with them," said Dick. "They are not our kind at all."
"Hullo, Rovers!" cried Pender as they came up.
"Hullo, yourself," returned Tom coldly.
"What brought you to town?" asked Rockley.
"My feet."
"Thanks. I thought it might have been your ears. They're big enough."
At this sally both Flapp and Pender began to laugh.
"That's a good one," said Flapp.
"I suppose you used your tongue for a walking stick when you came over," said Tom. "It's long enough."
"Bah!" cried Rockley, and turned away in disgust.
"Those Rover boys have got the swelled head," muttered Flapp. "But we'll turn 'em down before the encampment is over, eh, fellows?"
"That's what," replied Rockley.
While the Rover boys were making their purchases Lew Flapp and his cronies turned back into the tavern. There was a billiard room in the rear and here they began to play billiards.
"We'll let the Rovers start for home first," said Rockley. "It will be safer."