A measured, muffled snore issued from Aunt Polly's chamber.

And now the tiresome chirping of a cricket that no human ingenuity could locate, began.

Next the ghastly ticking of a deathwatch in the wall at the bed's head made Tom shudder--it meant that somebody's days were numbered.

Then the howl of a far-off dog rose on the night air, and was answered by a fainter howl from a remoter distance.

Tom was in an agony.