er, body limp,
the bandaged arm well forward, the eyes closed, all toes still,
and--most important--an expression of bravely endured pain.

"Look as pale as ever y' can!" whispered One-Eye.

All this preparation was the work of a moment. Then One-Eye gave the
door a vigorous and imperative kick. At the same time he began to talk
to Johnnie, anxiously, soothingly: "It's all right, sonny! It's all
right! Keep a stiff upper lip! 'Cause y're home now. Pore kid! My! That
was a lucky 'scape!"

This last was spoken into the kitchen, for Cis had sped to answer the
kick, and swung the door wide.

And now Johnnie, eyes tight closed, but with ears cocked, waited for
that expected burst of greeting--that mingling of glad cries and so
forth. But--there was dead silence.

In astonishment up went the flaxen lashes. And Johnnie saw that while
Cis was looking with all her might, it was not at him! And Grandpa,
mouse-still, was not looking at him either! Nor was Big Tom, putting
down his pipe at the table.

Furthermore there were no tears from any quarter, and no pitying
glances, and not a sign of relief! The trio before him, in what seemed
to be amazed fascination, were staring at One-Eye!

It was Big Tom who spoke first. His face, after its Sunday shave,
wrinkled into a really bright smile. "Well, by thunder!" he cried.

"Oh, my!"--this was Cis, whose hands were clasped in what to Johnnie
seemed a very silly way. And she was wearing her exalted,
Prince-of-Wales expression.

He was irritated, and resentful, and stung to the quick. What was the
matter with them? Oh, none of them cared! They were acting precisely
like that crowd around the taxi! And, oh, there would be no pop! And,
oh, what--_what_ would One-Eye think.

Johnnie burst into tears.

One-Eye was already thinking. With Johnnie held tight in his arms, he
had been staring at each of the trio in turn, that single eye getting
harder and harder, till it looked as if it were made of glass; till it
resembled a green marble; and his mustache, as he puckered up his mouth
in astonishment, had been lifting and falling, lifting and falling.

But as Johnnie's sobs came, One-Eye half turned, as if to go, then spied
the kitchen chair, and sat heavily, in sheer disgust. "Wal, I'll be
jig-_sawed_!" he vowed. "The kid's right? And I might 'a' knowed it!"

But things got better. For now there swelled forth a high, thin wail
from old Grandpa, whose pale eyes had been roving in sea