"
The tapping continued. To the doctor, of course, the thing was
entirely devoid of pain. It made much the same noise the dentist
makes with his mallet, only it went on and on, until perhaps two
minutes had passed.
"Stop!"
Instantly the boy was moved away. The student said nothing; neither
did the father. Yet the doctor noticed something which meant volumes
to his trained senses.
The boy's gaze was no longer clear. Instead, dancing lights appeared
wherever he looked; tiny flashes of violet and orange, which
shimmered before his pupils even though he closed his lids.
"Will you ask your father to tell?" inquired Norbith.
"No--damn you!"
It was the first thing the boy had said. And it came through set
teeth, in a voice which the doctor scarcely knew.
"Move him back; a little further this time."
The tapping began again. This time the boy's head got more of the
force of the swing; the tapping was more like a blow. THUD-THUD-THUD
came the sound now; and in a few seconds the boy could see nothing
for the shivering flames.
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