"Advance!" commanded Jack, and Tobias, his knees trembling, walked on
until he stood in the midst of the frolicking students.

"Bind him to the stake!" commanded the leader.

A small, pointed stake had been prepared and with a hammer it was
driven into the ground. Then the man was fastened to it with several
coils of clothes line.

"Now the faggots!" said Jack, and the boys dropped some pieces of
wood at the victims feet. A second later Jack had emptied the phial
of phosphorous over the wood, and the lurid light shone forth.

"They're burning me alive!" yelled Tobias. "Save me!"

"This is the fate dealt out to all who beat their wives and
children!" chanted Jack. At the same time he raised his hand to his
head and Fred played tremulous music on the harmonica, lending a
weirdness to the scene.

"Please don't kill me, good Mr. Klu-Klux-Klan men," begged Tobias.
"I'll never do it again. I promise you I never will!"

"Do you promise by the great seal of the United States?" inquired
Jack, in sepulchral accents.

"Yes, Oh yes; I'll promise anything!"

"'Tis well! This was but the first trial by fire. The next time will
be more severe!" and with that Jack kicked aside the phosphorous