hollow, might have been greatly puzzled to identify the bits of color.

"For mercy's sake! what's that?" ejaculated Helen, suddenly.

The others fell silent. A sudden stamping upon the frozen ground
arose from beyond the bushes. Then came a reverberating bellow.

Tom leaped through the bushes and looked down the hill. There
sounded the thundering of pounding hoofs, and the boy sprang back to
the side of his sister and her chum with a cry.

"Run!" he gasped. "The bull is there--I declare it is! He's coming
right up the hill and will head us off. We've got to go back. He must
have seen us through the bushes."

"Oh, dear me! dear me!" cried his sister. "What will we do--"

"Run, I tell you!" repeated Tom, seizing her hand.

Ruth had already taken her other hand. With their skates rattling
over their shoulders, the trio started back across the field. The
bull parted the bushes and came thundering out upon the plain. He
swerved to follow them instantly. There could be no doubt that he had
seen them, and the bellow he repeated showed that he was very much
enraged and considered the three friends his particular enemies.

Ruth glanced back over her shoulder and saw that the angry beast was
gaining on them fast. It was indeed surprising how fast the bull
could gallop--and he was very terrible indeed to look upon.