He attracted no notice.
Then he opened the paper bag, and the birds flew out among the audience.
Rushing hither and thither, the pigeons, by the motion of their wings, soon extinguished the lights. The hall was wrapped in darkness.
Meanwhile Charley Barker and Swanny Marsh cried "Fire! fire!" with all their might, and Tommy joined in the din.
Not knowing how or why the lights had been put out, the audience became panic-stricken.
They made a rush for the doorway, which speedily became blocked.
Now a terrible scene ensued, which the boys were far from intending, or even anticipating.
The doorway became jammed with a fighting, struggling mass of humanity, yelling, shrieking and pushing to escape.
Delicate women and children were trampled under foot, and the darkness made the scene more dreadful.
There was only one door to the hall, which was all the worse for the people.