eval {
         local $SIG{ALRM} = sub { die "alarm\n" };       # NB \n required
         alarm 15;
       #  $return = system($text);
        # $return = qx($text);
         $return = `$text 2>&1`;
         alarm 0;
     };
     die if $@ && $@ ne "alarm\n";       # propagate errors
     if ($@) {
         # timed out
         print "\n\$\@ = $@\ntimeout, return: $return\n";
     }
     else {
         # didn't
         print "\nreturn: $return\n";
     }