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〃You are aware；〃 I said； with assurance； 〃that I require a talisman
in order to be invulnerable； and； unfortunately； I have left mine
at Algiers。〃
The Marabout began laughing with an incredulous air。 〃Still；〃 I
continued； 〃I can； by remaining six hours at prayers； do without
the talisman； and defy your weapon。 To…morrow morning； at eight
o'clock； I will allow you to fire at me in the presence of these
Arabs； who were witnesses of your challenge。〃
Bou…Allem； astonished at such a promise； asked me once again if
this offer were serious； and if he should invite the company for
the appointed hour。 On my affirmative； they agreed to meet before
the stone bench in the market place。
I did not spend my night at prayers； as may be supposed； but I
employed about two hours in insuring my invulnerability； then；
satisfied with the result； I slept soundly； for I was terribly
tired。
By eight the next morning we had breakfasted； our horses were
saddled； and our escort was awaiting the signal for our departure；
which would take place after the famous experiment。
None of the guests were absent； and； indeed； a great number of
Arabs came in to swell the crowd。
The pistols were handed me； I called attention to the fact that the
vents were clear； and the Marabout put in a fair charge of powder
and drove the wad home。 Among the bullets produced； I chose one
which I openly put in the pistol； and which was then also covered
with paper。
The Arab watched all these movements； for his honor was at stake。
We went through the same process with the second pistol and the
solemn moment arrived。
Solemn； indeed； it seemed to everybodyto the spectators who were
uncertain of the issue； to Madame Houdin； who had in vain besought
me to give up this trick； for she feared the resultand solemn
also to me； for as my new trick did not depend on any of the
arrangements made at Algiers； I feared an error； an act of
treacheryI knew not what。
Still I posted myself at fifteen paces from the sheik； without
evincing the slightest emotion。
The Marabout immediately seized one of the pistols； and； on my
giving the signal； took a deliberate aim at me。 The pistol went
off； and the ball appeared between my teeth。
More angry than ever； my rival tried to seize the other pistol； but
I succeeded in reaching it before him。
〃You could not injure me；〃 I said to him； 〃but you shall now see
that my aim is more dangerous than yours。 Look at that wall。〃
I pulled the trigger； and on the newly whitewashed wall appeared a
large patch of blood； exactly at the spot where I had aimed。
The Marabout went up to it； dipped his finger in the blood； and；
raising it to his mouth； convinced himself of the reality。 When he
acquired this certainty； his arms fell； and his head was bowed on
his chest； as if he were annihilated。
It was evident that for the moment he doubted everything； even the
Prophet。
The spectators raised their eyes to heaven； muttered prayers； and
regarded me with a species of terror。
This scene was a triumphant termination to my performance。 I
therefore retired； leaving the audience under the impression I had
produced。 We took leave of Bou…Allem and his son； and set off at a
gallop。
The trick I have just described； though so curious； is easily
prepared。 I will give a description of it； while explaining the
trouble it took me。
As soon as I was alone in my room； I took out of my pistol case
without which I never travela bullet mold。
I took a card； bent up the four edges； and thus made a sort of
trough； in which I placed a piece of wax taken from one of the
candles。 When it was melted； I mixed with it a little lampblack I
had obtained by putting the blade of a knife over the candle； and
then ran this composition in the bullet mold。
Had I allowed the liquid to get quite cold； the ball would have
been full and solid； but in about ten seconds I turned the mold
over； and the portions of the wax not yet set ran out； leaving a
hollow ball in the mold。 This operation is the same as that used
in making tapers； the thickness of the outside depending on the
time the liquid has been left in the mold。
I wanted a second ball； which I made rather more solid than the
other； and this I filled with blood； and covered the orifice with a
lump of wax。 An Irishman had once taught me the way to draw blood
from the thumb without feeling any pain； and I employed it on this
occasion to fill my bullet。
Bullets thus prepared bear an extraordinary resemblance to lead；
and are easily mistaken for that metal when seen at a short
distance off。
With this explanation； the trick will be easily understood。 After
showing the leaden bullet to the spectators； I changed it for my
hollow ball； and openly put the latter into the pistol。 By
pressing the wad tightly down； the wax broke into small pieces； and
could not touch me at the distance I stood。
At the moment the pistol was fired； I opened my mouth to display
the lead bullet I held between my teeth； while the other pistol
contained the bullet filled with blood； which bursting against the
wall； left its imprint； though the wax had flown to atoms。
It is no wonder that after such exhibitions Robert…Houdin's success
was complete。 The Arabs lost all confidence in Marabout
〃miracles；〃 and thus a dangerous smoldering flame of disaffection
to the French was entirely smothered。EDITOR。
David P。 Abbott
Fraudulent Spiritualism Unveiled＇1＇
＇1＇ As to whether communication with the departed is possible； no
discussion is here attempted。 The episodes following； from
experiences well authenticated； merely illustrate what sleight…of…
hand experts have long knownthat most 〃mediums；〃 〃astrologers；〃
〃mind readers；〃 and the like； can be proven to be frauds。 Their
dupes are puzzled； and sometimes won over； in the name of
Spiritualism； either by the tricks familiar to all 〃conjurers；〃 or
else by the psychology of deception （see page 280）。 Some of the
cleverness displayed is marvelous； as the following pages show。
The passages by Hereward Carrington are copyrighted by Herbert B。
Turner & Co。； 1907； and those by David P。 Abbott are copyrighted by
the Open Court Publishing Company； 1907EDITOR。
THE METHODS OF A 〃DOCTOR OF THE OCCULT〃
Not so very long ago I met a frienda man of wealth； who was a
firm believer in spiritualism； and who frequently conversed with
his dead wife and daughter。 I asked him if he could inform me
whether or not there were any good mediums in the city； as I should
like to consult one。
He replied that at present there were none in Omaha of any well…
developed psychic powers； that he was entirely satisfied on the
subject and did not require any demonstrations to convince himself
of the truths of spiritual science。 He informed me that the
question was settled beyond all dispute； but that if I were
skeptical； there was said to be a medium in Council Bluffs who
possessed most wonderful powers。
I accordingly made other inquiries from those who were in a
position to know； and I learned that this medium； a celebrated
〃Doctor of the Occult； Astrologer； Palmist and Spirit Medium；〃 was
at that time giving private sittings in Council Bluffs to earnest
inquirers only； for the small sum of two dollars。
I was informed that his performances were of the most wonderful
nature； that there was no possibility of trickery of any kind； that
he told you whatever you desired to know； without your even asking
him； that； in addition to this； he had powers over the elements of
nature； and； in fact； I was led to believe that he was a true
sorcerer of the olden days。
I determined at once to call on this renowned personage； and try to
secure a little information from the unseen world。 Accordingly；
one Sunday afternoon I took the car that crossed the river； and in
due time arrived at the apartments of this wonderful doctor。
I was met at the door by an attendant； who accepted the fee and
directed me to enter the rooms of this mysterious person quietly；
and if I found him employed； by no means to disturb him； but merely
to await his pleasure； that he was frequently conversing with
unseen beings； or deep in some astrological computation； and at
such times it was not safe to disturb him。
With a beating heart I entered the room where he was to be found。
This room was a large one。 I did not see him at first。 What
attracted my attention was a large map or painting on a piece of
canvas which hung on a wall space in the room。 This painting had a
representation of the sun in its center。 This could be discovered
by the rays which radiated from it in all directions。 Around this
sun were many stars； and an occasional planet； among which Saturn
and its rings were very prominently depicted。 There