He came in the door and said, Good Lord. He walked toward me, said, Youre still standing, and changed his course. He knew every room in the house. He also knew that if I was in bad shape, so was Jem.

After ten forevers Dr. Reynolds returned. Is Jem dead? I asked.

Far from it, he said, squatting down to me. Hes got a bump on the head just like yours, and a broken arm. Scout, look that wayno, dont turn your head, roll your eyes. Now look over yonder. Hes got a bad break, so far as I can tell now its in the elbow. Like somebody tried to wring his arm off . . . now look at me.

Then hes not dead?

No-o! Dr. Reynolds got to his feet. We cant do much tonight, he said, except try to make him as comfortable as we can. Well have to X-ray his armlooks like hell be wearing his arm way out by his side for a while. Dont worry, though, hell be as good as new. Boys his age bounce.

While he was talking, Dr. Reynolds had been looking keenly at me, lightly fingering the bump that was coming on my forehead. You dont feel broke anywhere, do you?

Dr. Reynoldss small joke made me smile. Then you dont think hes dead, then?

He put on his hat. Now I may be wrong, of course, but I think hes very alive. Shows all the symptoms of it. Go have a look at him, and when I come back well get together and decide.

Dr. Reynoldss step was young and brisk. Mr. Heck Tates was not. His heavy boots punished the porch and he opened the door awkwardly, but he said the same thing Dr. Reynolds said when he came in. You all right, Scout? he added.

Yes sir, Im goin in to see Jem. Atticusnthems in there.

Ill go with you, said Mr. Tate.

Aunt Alexandra had shaded Jems reading light with a towel, and his room was dim. Jem was lying on his back. There was an ugly mark along one side of his face. His left arm lay out from his body; his elbow was bent slightly, but in the wrong direction. Jem was frowning.

Jem . . .?

Atticus spoke. He cant hear you, Scout, hes out like a light. He was coming around, but Dr. Reynolds put him out again.

Yes sir. I retreated. Jems room was large and square. Aunt Alexandra was sitting in a rocking-chair by the fireplace. The man who brought Jem in was standing in a corner, leaning against the wall. He was some countryman I did not know. He had probably been at the pageant, and was in the vicinity when it happened. He must have heard our screams and come running.

Atticus was standing by Jems bed.

Mr. Heck Tate stood in the doorway. His hat was in his hand, and a flashlight bulged from his pants pocket. He was in his working clothes.

Come in, Heck, said Atticus. Did you find anything? I cant conceive of anyone low-down enough to do a thing like this, but I hope you found him.

Mr. Tate sniffed. He glanced sharply at the man in the corner, nodded to him, then looked around the roomat Jem, at Aunt Alexandra, then at Atticus.

Sit down, Mr. Finch, he said pleasantly.

Atticus said, Lets all sit down. Have that chair, Heck. Ill get another one from the livingroom.

Mr. Tate sat in Jems desk chair. He waited until Atticus returned and settled himself. I wondered why Atticus had not brought a chair for the man in the corner, but Atticus knew the ways of country people far better than I. Some of his rural clients would park their long-eared steeds under the chinaberry trees in the back yard, and Atticus would often keep appointments on the back steps. This one was probably more comfortable where he was.

Mr. Finch, said Mr. Tate, tell you what I found. I found a little girls dressits out there in my car. That your dress, Scout?

Yes sir, if its a pink one with smockin, I said. Mr. Tate was behaving as if he were on the witness stand. He liked to tell things his own way, untrammeled by state or defense, and sometimes it took him a while.

I found some funny-looking pieces of muddy-colored cloth

Thats mcostume, Mr. Tate.

Mr. Tate ran his hands down his thighs. He rubbed his left arm and investigated Jems mantelpiece, then he seemed to be interested in the fireplace. His fingers sought his long nose.

What is it, Heck? said Atticus.

Mr. Tate found his neck and rubbed it. Bob Ewells lyin on the ground under that tree down yonder with a kitchen knife stuck up under his ribs. Hes dead, Mr. Finch.