"Anyway," said Tommy, "it's better than going home to be licked." "I'll bet yer," replied Charley. While sucking their candy and talking they were approached by another boy. "Hello, Charley!" exclaimed the newcomer; "was that you snowballing Nigger John?" "I never give myself away, Swanny Marsh," replied Charley. "He's awful mad. I wanted to sell him two pigeons for candy and he wouldn't deal." "I'll trade with you." "What'll you give?" "My jackknife, a handful of candies and a dozen marbles." "Can't do it," replied Swanny Marsh; "they're worth more." "You can keep them," said Charley. "I'll tell you what I'd like to do with them," continued the owner of the pigeons. "What's that?" "There's a lecture on to-night in Julian Hall. I went there and got a seat up in the gallery. Just under me there was a man with a bald head, and I dropped a marble down right on top of him. Jimanetti! you should have heard him howl and seen him jump!" "Did they tumble you?" "Like my bad luck, they did. A mean cuss saw me do it, and I was bounced. Now, I'll let you have the pigeons, if you'll throw them up through the door of the hall." "What's the fun of that?" "They'll fly all around and put the gas out, and we'll holler 'Fire!' like fury. It'll be all a lark to see the folks run for the door," replied Marsh. "Good boy, Swanny!" said Charley. "Will you do it?" "Tommy will, won't you, Tommy?" exclaimed Charley. "I don't mind," answered Tommy, in his usual good-natured way. "That settles it," said Swanny Marsh. "Here are the birds." He produced a paper bag, in which were two full-grown pigeons. "Come on to Julian Hall. Open the door a little way and let the birds fly," exclaimed Charley Barker. "It'll be such fun." Tommy thought so, too, but he did not stop to consider the matter thoroughly in all its bearings. This is the trouble with most boys. They do not stop to think, and, acting as creatures of impulse, they often do mischievous things, which produce disastrous results, without meaning any real harm. Reaching the hall, which contained about three hundred people, who were listening to an instructive lecture, Tommy opened the door a little way. He attracted no notice. Then he opened the paper bag, and the birds flew out among the audience. Rushing hither and thither, the pigeons, by the motion of their wings, soon extinguished the lights. The hall was wrapped in darkness. Meanwhile Charley Barker and Swanny Marsh cried "Fire! fire!" with all their might, and Tommy joined in the din. Not knowing how or why the lights had been put out, the audience became panic-stricken. They made a rush for the doorway, which speedily became blocked. Now a terrible scene ensued, which the boys were far from intending, or even anticipating. The doorway became jammed with a fighting, struggling mass of humanity, yelling, shrieking and pushing to escape.