Tom began--hesitatingly at first, but as he warmed to his subject his words flowed more and more easily; in a little while every sound ceased but his own voice; every eye fixed itself upon him; with parted lips and bated breath the audience hung upon his words, taking no note of time, rapt in the ghastly fascinations of the tale. The strain upon pent emotion reached its climax when the boy said:

     "--and as the doctor fetched the board around and Muff Potter fell, Injun Joe jumped with the knife and--"

     Crash! Quick as lightning the halfbreed sprang for a window, tore his way through all opposers, and was gone!