It flew all over the room, settling on the table, books and carpet nearly an inch thick.
Mr. and Mrs. Floyd and Tommy, as soon as they could get their eyes open, looked at one another in blank dismay.
They were as black as negroes, and began to sneeze and cough as if they had suddenly caught cold.
"Dear me," said Mr. Floyd, retreating to the door.
"What in the world is it?" exclaimed Mrs. Floyd, following him.
Down came another cloud of soot, which struck Tommy full in the face.
Mr. Floyd opened the door and called for help.
Suddenly a dark object darted down the chimney, surrounded with soot, and uttering a fiendish scream as its feet touched the coals, dashed across the room, made one spring for the window, leaped into the street and was seen no more.
"The devil!" muttered Mr. Floyd.
"Heaven defend us!" said his wife.