"
Bathurst stepped out and looked up. He could but just make out
the figure of Rabda, seemingly already higher than the top of the
bungalow. Gradually it became more and more indistinct.
"You are there, Rabda?" her father said.
"I am here, father!" and the voice seemed to come from a considerable
distance.
Again and again the question was asked, and the answer became
fainter and fainter, although it sounded as if it was a distant
cry in response to Rujub's shout rather than spoken in an ordinary
voice.
At last no response was heard.
"Now it shall descend," the juggler said.
Two or three minutes passed, and then Bathurst, who was staring
up into the darkness, could make out the end of the pole with the
seat upon it, but Rabda was no longer there. Rapidly it sank, until
it stood its original height on the ground.
"Where is Rabda?" Bathurst exclaimed.
"She is here, my lord," and as he spoke Rabda rose from a sitting
position on the balcony close to Bathurst.
"It is marvelous!" the latter exclaimed. "I have heard of that feat
before, but have never seen it. May I take up that piece of wood?"
"Assuredly, sahib."
Bathurst took it up and carried it to the light. It was undoubtedly,
as he had before supposed, a piece of solid wood. The juggler had
not touched it, or he would have supposed he might have substituted
for the piece he first examined a sort of telescope of thin sheets of
steel, but even that would not have accounted for Rabda's disappearance.
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