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he sting of a microbe depopulates a city。 But none of these unseen； mysterious agencies was at worknothing so trivial wrecked the Skylarks。
It was a German street…band！
A band whose several members had watched McFudd and his party from across the street； and who had begun limbering their instruments before the sextet had ceased singing； regarding the situation； no doubt； as pregnant with tips。
McFudd did not give the cornet time to draw his instrument from its woollen bag before he had him by the arm。
〃Don't put a mouthful of wind into that horn of yours until I spake to ye；〃 he cried in vociferous tones。
The leader stopped and looked at him in a dazed way。
〃I have an idea； gentlemen；〃 added McFudd； turning to his companion's； and tapping his forehead。 〃I am of the opinion that this music would be wasted on the night air； and so with your parmission I propose to transfer this orchestra to the top flure； where we can listen to their chunes at our leisure。 Right about； face！ Forward！ March！〃 and McFudd advanced upon the band； wheeled the drum around； and； locking arms with the cornet； started across the street for the stone steps。
〃Not a word out of any o' ye till I get 'em in；〃 McFudd continued in a low voice； fumbling in his pocket for his night…key。
The musicians obeyed mechanically and tiptoed one by one inside the dimly lighted hall； followed by Oliver and the others。
〃Now take off your shoes； you've four flights of stairs to crawl up； and if ye make a noise until I'm ready for ye； off goes a dollar of your pay。〃
The bass…drum carefully backed his instrument against the wall； sat down on the floor； and began pulling off his boots； the cornet and bassoon followed； the clarionet wore only his gum shoes； and so was permitted to keep them on。
〃Now； Walley； me boy； do you go ahead and turn up the gas and open the piano； and Cockburn； old man； will ye kindly get the blower and tongs out of Freddie's room and the scuttle out of Tomlins's closet and the Chinese gong that hangs over me bed？ And all you fellers go ahead treading on whispers； d'ye moind？〃 said McFudd under his breath。 〃I'll bring up this gang with me。 Not a breath out of any o' yez remimber； till I get there。 The drum's unhandy and we got to go slow wid it；〃 and he slipped the strap over his head and started upstairs； followed by the band。
The ascent was made without a sound until old Mr。 Lang's door was reached； when McFudd's foot slipped； and； but for the bassoonist's head； both the Irishman and the drum would have rolled down… stairs。 Lang heard the sound； and recognizing the character of the attendant imprecation； did not get up。 〃It's only McFndd；〃 he said quietly to his suddenly awakened wife。
Once safe upon the attic floor the band who were entering with great gusto into the spirit of the occasion； arranged themselves in a half…circle about the piano； replaced their shoes； stripped their instruments of their coveringsthe cornetist breathing noiselessly into the mouth…pieces to thaw out the frostand stood at attention for McFudd's orders。
By this time Simmons had taken his seat at the piano； Cockburn held the blower and tongs； Cranch； who on coming in had ignored the card tacked to his door； and who was found fast asleep in his chair； was given the coal…scuttle； and little Tomlins grasped his own wash…basin in one hand and Fred's poker in the other。 Oliver was to sing the air； and Fred was to beat a tattoo on Waller's door with the butt end of a cane。 The gas had been turned up and every kerosene lamp had been lighted and ranged about the hall。 McFudd threw off his coat and vest； cocked a Scotch smoking… cap over one eye； and seizing the Chinese gong in one hand and the wooden mallet in the other； climbed upon the piano and faced his motley orchestra。
〃Attintion； gentlemen；〃 whispered McFudd。
〃The first chune will be 'Old Dog Tray；' because it begins wid a lovely howl。 Remimber now； when I hit this gong that's the signal for yez to begin； and ye'll all come together wid wan smash。 Then the band will play a bar or two； and then every man Jack o' ye will go strong on the chorus。 Are yez ready？〃
McFudd swung his mallet over his head； poised it for an instant； ran his eye around the circle with the air of an impresario； saw that the drum was in position； the horns and clarionet ready； the blower； scuttle； tongs； and other instruments of torture in place； and hit the gong with all his might。
The crash that followed woke every boarder in the house and tumbled half of them out of their beds。 Long before the chorus had been reached all the doors had been thrown open； and the halls and passageways filled with the startled boarders。 Then certain mysterious…looking figures in bed…gowns； water… proofs； and bath…robes began bounding up the stairs； and a collection of dishevelled heads were thrust through the door of the attic。 Some of the suddenly awakened boarders tried to stop the din by protest； others threatened violence； one or two grinned with delight。 Among these last was the little hunchback； swathed in a blanket like an Indian chief； and barefooted。 He had rushed upstairs at the first sound as fast as his little legs could carry him； and was peering under the arms of the others； rubbing his sides with glee and laughing like a boy。 Mrs。 Schuyler Van Tassell； whose head and complexion were not ready for general inspection； had kept her door partly closed； opening it only wide enough when the other boarders rushed by to let her voice throughalways an unpleasant organ when that lady had lost her temper。
As the face of each new arrival appeared in the doorway； McFudd would bow gracefully in recognition of the honor of its presence； and redouble his attack on the gong。 The noise he produced was only equalled by that of the drum； which never ceased for an instantMcFudd's orders being to keep that instrument going irrespective of time or tune。
In the midst of this uproar of brass； strings； sheep… skin； wash…bowls； broken coal； pokers and tongs； a lean figure in curl…papers and slippers； bright red calico wrapper reaching to the floor； and a lighted candle in one hand； forced its way through the crowd at the door and stood out in the glare of the gaslights facing McFudd。
It was Miss Ann Teetum！
Instantly a silence fell upon the room。
〃Gentlemen； this is outrageous！〃 she cried in a voice that ripped through the air like a saw。 〃I have put up with these disgraceful performances as long as I am going to。 Not one of you shall stay in my house another night。 Out you go in the morning； every one of you； bag and baggage！〃
McFudd attempted to make an apology。 Oliver stepped forward； the color mounting to his cheeks； and Waller began a protest at the unwarrantable intrusion； but the infuriated little woman waved them all aside and turning abruptly marched back through the door and down the staircase； preceded by the other female boarders。 The little hunchback alone remained。 He was doubled up in a knot； wiping the tears from his eyes； his breath gone from excessive laughter。
The Skylarkers looked at each other in blank astonishment。 One of the long…cherished traditions of the house was the inviola