Sid had better judgment than to utter the thought that was in his mind as he left the house.

It was this: "Pretty thin--as long a dream as that, without any mistakes in it!" What a hero Tom was become, now! He did not go skipping and prancing, but moved with a dignified swagger as became a pirate who felt that the public eye was on him.

And indeed it was; he tried not to seem to see the looks or hear the remarks as he passed along, but they were food and drink to him.

Smaller boys than himself flocked at his heels, as proud to be seen with him, and tolerated by him, as if he had been the drummer at the head of a procession or the elephant leading a menagerie into town.

Boys of his own size pretended not to know he had been away at all; but they were consuming with envy, nevertheless.