They had no claim upon the imagination or the sympathy of the eager crowd,--no such hold as this newcomer, the child born in their pockets, so to speak,--an expression first employed by an ardent champion of the impending infant in defending his righteous solicitude when it was attacked by a sophisticated and at the same time exasperated nurse.
Two bonfires were started in the open space known as "The Green." The huge piles of twigs and branches had been thrown up earlier in the evening.

They were in plain view of the "lookout" at the top of Split Mountain.

It had been agreed that if it was a boy one fire was to be the signal; if a girl, two.

The "watch" was to share in the glad tidings! The cheering awoke Abel Landover from a sound sleep.

He turned in his bunk and growled: "The damned idiots!" Mr.Landover did not like children.