my ( $in, $out, $timer );
    $logger->debug("Calling start ..");
    $$self{_h} = start ( \@cmd, \$in, \$out,
      $timer = timer ( 5 ) ) or
        $logger->logdie("start returned $?:$!");
    $logger->debug("Back from start ..");

    $$self{_in}    = \$in;
    $$self{_out}   = \$out;
    $$self{_timer} = \$timer;