We need more special variables here, especially $.: 
local $.;        # make sure you're in a restrictive block
while ($. < 10) {
    push @lines, scalar <IN>;
    last if eof(IN);
}

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I tested this on a file of 11 lines and one of 9. Worked both ways. If you don't care about uninitialized value errors, you can leave out the local.

In reply to Re: Reading multiple lines? by chromatic
in thread Reading multiple lines? by rdw

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