They have come to us from the oldest
times, and it is said they were brought by wise men from Egypt;
but that I know not."
"I have always been interested in juggling, and have seen many
things that I cannot understand," Bathurst said. "I have seen the
basket trick done on the road in front of the veranda, as well as
in other places, and I cannot in any way account for it."
The juggler took from his basket a piece of wood about two feet in
length and some four inches in diameter.
"You see this?" he said.
Bathurst took it in his hand. "It looks like a bit sawn off a
telegraph pole," he said.
"Will you come outside, sahib?"
The night was very dark, but the lamp on the table threw its light
through the window onto the drive in front of the veranda. Rujub
took with him a piece of wood about nine inches square, with a soft
pad on the top. He went out in the drive and placed the piece of
pole upright, and laid the wood with the cushion on the top.
"Now will you stand in the veranda a while?"
Bathurst stood back by the side of the window so as not to interfere
with the passage of the light. Rabda stole forward and sat down
upon the cushion.
"Now watch, sahib."
Bathurst looked, and saw the block of wood apparently growing.
Gradually it rose until Rabda passed up beyond the light in the
room.
"You may come out," the juggler said, "but do not touch the pole.
If you do, it will cause a fall, which would be fatal to my child.
Pages:
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39