He heard howls and curses, groans and shrieks, confusingly in chorus as if a battle were raging.

With all was the crash of splintering furniture.
The eyes of the urchin glared in fear that one of them would discover him.
Curious faces appeared in doorways, and whispered comments passed to and fro.

"Ol' Johnson's raisin' hell agin." Jimmie stood until the noises ceased and the other inhabitants of the tenement had all yawned and shut their doors.

Then he crawled upstairs with the caution of an invader of a panther den.

Sounds of labored breathing came through the broken door-panels.