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he thought came straight from Shaitan's kitchen； but； insensibly
seduced by the perfume of their favorite liquor； and urged by the
interpreters； some of the boldest decided on tasting the magic
liquor； and all soon followed their example。
The vessel； rapidly emptied； was repeatedly filled again with equal
rapidity； and it satisfied all demands； like my inexhaustible
bottle； and was borne back to the stage still full。
But it was not enough to amuse my spectators； I must also； in order
to fulfill the object of my mission； startle and even terrify them
by the display of a supernatural power。
My arrangements had all been made for this purpose； and I had
reserved for the end of my performances three tricks； which must
complete my reputation as a sorcerer。
Many of my readers will remember having seen at my performances a
small but solidly built box； which； being handed to the spectators；
becomes heavy or light at my order； a child might raise it with
ease； and yet the most powerful man could not move it from its
place。
I advanced； with my box in my hand； to the center of the
〃practicable；〃 communicating from the stage to the pit； then；
addressing the Arabs； I said to them：
〃From what you have witnessed； you will attribute a supernatural
power to me； and you are right。 I will give you a new proof of my
marvelous authority； by showing that I can deprive the most
powerful man of his strength and restore it at my will。 Anyone who
thinks himself strong enough to try the experiment may draw near
me。〃 （I spoke slowly； in order to give the interpreter time to
translate my words。）
An Arab of middle height； but well built and muscular； like many of
the Arabs are； came to my side with sufficient assurance。
〃Are you very strong？〃 I said to him； measuring him from head to
foot。
〃Oh； yes！〃 he replied carelessly。
〃Are you sure you will always remain so？〃
〃Quite sure。〃
〃You are mistaken； for in an instant I will rob you of your
strength； and you shall become as a little child。〃
The Arab smiled disdainfully as a sign of his incredulity。
〃Stay；〃 I continued； 〃lift up this box。〃
The Arab stooped； lifted up the box； and said to me； coldly； 〃Is
that all？〃
〃Wait！〃 I replied。
Then； with all possible gravity； I made an imposing gesture； and
solemnly pronounced the words：
〃Behold！ you are weaker than a woman； now； try to lift the box。〃
The Hercules； quite cool as to my conjuration； seized the box once
again by the handle； and gave it a violent tug； but this time the
box resisted； and； spite of his most vigorous attacks； would not
budge an inch。
The Arab vainly expended on this unlucky box a strength which would
have raised an enormous weight； until； at length； exhausted；
panting； and red with anger； he stopped； became thoughtful； and
began to comprehend the influences of magic。
He was on the point of withdrawing； but that would be allowing his
weakness； and that he； hitherto respected for his vigor； had become
as a little child。 This thought rendered him almost mad。
Deriving fresh strength from the encouragements his friends offered
him by word and deed； he turned a glance round them； which seemed
to say： 〃You will see what a son of the desert can do。〃
He bent once again over the box： his nervous hands twined round the
handle； and his legs； placed on either side like two bronze
columns； served as a support for the final effort。
But； wonder of wonders！ this Hercules； a moment since so strong and
proud； now bows his head； his arms； riveted to the box； undergo a
violent muscular contraction； his legs give way； and he falls on
his knees with a yell of agony！
An electric shock； produced by an inductive apparatus； had been
passed； on a signal from me； from the further end of the stage into
the handle of the box。 Hence the contortions of the poor Arab！
It would have been cruelty to prolong this scene。
I gave a second signal； and the electric current was immediately
intercepted。 My athlete； disengaged from his terrible bondage；
raised his hands over his head。
〃Allah！ Allah！〃 he exclaimed； full of terror； then wrapping himself
up quickly in the folds of his burnous； as if to hide his disgrace；
he rushed through the ranks of the spectators and gained the front
entrance。
With the exception of my stage boxes and the privileged spectators
who appeared to take great pleasure in this experiment； my audience
had become grave and silent； and I heard the words 〃Shaitan！〃
〃Djenoum！〃 passing in murmur round the circle of credulous men；
who； while gazing on me； seemed astonished that I possessed none of
the physical qualities attributed to the angel of darkness。
I allowed my public a few moments to recover from the emotion
produced by my experiment and the flight of the herculean Arab。
One of the means employed by the Marabouts to gain influence in the
eyes of the Arabs is by causing a belief in their invulnerability。
One of them； for instance； ordered a gun to be loaded and fired at
him from a short distance； but in vain did the flint produce a
shower of sparks； the Marabout pronounced some cabalistic words；
and the gun did not explode。
The mystery was simple enough； the gun did not go off because the
Marabout had skillfully stopped up the vent。
Colonel de Neven explained to me the importance of discrediting
such a miracle by opposing to it a sleight…of…hand trick far
superior to it； and I had the very article。
I informed the Arabs that I possessed a talisman rendering me
invulnerable； and I defied the best marksman in Algeria to hit me。
I had hardly uttered the words when an Arab； who had attracted my
notice by the attention he had paid to my tricks； jumped over four
rows of seats； and disdaining the use of the 〃practicable；〃 crossed
the orchestra； upsetting flutes； clarionets； and violins； escaladed
the stage； while burning himself at the footlights； and then said；
in excellent French：
〃I will kill you！〃
An immense burst of laughter greeted both the Arab's picturesque
ascent and his murderous intentions； while an interpreter who stood
near me told me I had to deal with a Marabout。
〃You wish to kill me！〃 I replied； imitating his accent and the
inflection of his voice。 〃Well； I reply； that though you are a
sorcerer； I am still a greater one； and you will not kill me。〃
I held a cavalry pistol in my hand； which I presented to him。
〃Here； take this weapon； and assure yourself it has undergone no
preparation。〃
The Arab breathed several times down the barrel； then through the
nipple； to assure himself there was a communication between them；
and after carefully examining the pistol； said：
〃The weapon is good； and I will kill you。〃
〃As you are determined； and for more certainty； put in a double
charge of powder； and a wad on the top。〃
〃It is done。〃
〃Now； here is a leaden ball； mark it with your knife； so as to be
able to recognize it； and put it in the pistol； with a second wad。〃
〃It is done。〃
〃Now that you are quite sure your pistol is loaded； and that it
will explode； tell me； do you feel no remorse； no scruple about
killing me thus； although I authorize you to do so？〃
〃No； for I wish to kill you；〃 the Arab repeated coldly。
Without replying； I put an apple on the point of a knife； and；
standing a few yards from the Marabout； ordered him to fire。
〃Aim straight at the heart；〃 I said to him。
My opponent aimed immediately； without the slightest hesitation。
The pistol exploded； and the bullet lodged in the center of the
apple。
I carried the talisman to the Marabout； who recognized the ball he
had marked。
I could not say that this trick produced greater stupefaction than
the ones preceding it： at any rate； my spectators； palsied by
surprise and terror； looked round in silence； seeming to think；
〃Where the deuce have we got to here！〃
A pleasant scene； however； soon unwrinkled many of their faces。
The Marabout； though stupefied by his defeat； had not lost his
wits； so； profiting by the moment when he returned me the pistol；
he seized the apple； thrust it into his waist belt； and could not
be induced to return it； persuaded as he was that he possessed in
it an incomparable talisman。
For the last trick in my performance I required the assistance of
an Arab。
At the request of several interpreters； a young Moor； about twenty
years of age； tall； well built； and richly dressed； consented to
come on the stage。 Bolder and more civilized； doubtless； than his
comrades of the plains； he walked firmly up to me。
I drew him toward the table that was in the center of the stage；
and pointed out to him and to the other spectators that it was
slightly built and perfectly isolated。 After which； without
further preface； I