looked at the doctor suspiciously; Lynde's late experience had shaken
his faith in the general sanity of his species. "Certainly," he said, "I
would like to have this matter explained to me; for I'll be hanged if I
understand it. This is an asylum?"

"Yes, sir."

"And you are the superintendent?"

"Yes, sir."

"Then--naturally--you are not a lunatic?"

"Certainly not!" said the doctor, starting.

"Very well; I didn't know. I am listening to you, sir."

"Early this morning," said Dr. Pendegrast, somewhat embarrassed by
Lynde's singular manner, "a number of patients whom we had always
considered tractable seized the attendants one by one at breakfast, and,
before a general alarm could be given, locked them in the cells. Some of
us were still in our bedrooms when the assault began and were there
overpowered. We chanced to be short-handed at the time, two of the
attendants being ill, and another absent. As I say, we were all seized--
the women attendants and nurses as well--and locked up. Higgins here, my
head-man, they put into a strait-jacket."

"Yes, sir," spoke up Higgins for himself, "they did so!"

"Me," continued Dr. Pendegrast, smiling, "they confined in the padded