The Psychologist and The Magician - Wolaver

The Psychologist and The Magician— A Psychological Study in Story Form

By Ernest C. Rodwick (1920)

Part I In youth he was known as “Dare-Devil
Scholtz” and his badly scarred features, injured
In the early part of the Twentieth Century by saber thrusts, bore witness that he was no
(or, to be more definite, in 1910) when the edu- stranger to punishment.
cational world was challenged to unravel the
mysteries of what is known as Magic or Black Von Scholtz decided to “beard the lion in his
Art, the faculty of Heidelberg University be- den” and he immediately set sail for India, the
came greatly interested in the subject, and much home of the Magicians. Could he have foreseen
discussion followed among the learned men as the difficulty and weird experiences he was des-
to the utility of investigating such a subject. tined to encounter, it is probable he would have
said, “Let Bill do it.”
Some claimed that in view of the fact that a
thorough investigation would necessitate a con- Professor von Scholtz was considered one of
tinued residence of experts in a foreign country, the ablest scientists of Europe, and was well
whose time and energies at home could be given qualified in every way to undertake the hazard-
to more practical problems, and therefore, of ous work before him. Arriving at Bombay, and
greater benefit to man; that, therefore, they seated on the veranda of the leading hotel of the
would not entertain the idea of an investigation city, the Professor heard someone call his name.
of this sort. Others thought that even though On looking around, he saw George Blake, a
they had means to squander in such a frivolous young English officer, who had been a few
research, the game would be found to be not years previously a student at Heidelberg, ap-
worth the candle. proaching with outstretched hand, saying: “To
what good luck do we owe this pleasure ?”
Herman von Scholtz, Professor of Science,
was favorably disposed toward the investiga- The Professor, rising, greeted the young of-
tion, he thought they would be amply repaid by ficer, and soon made his mission known. “To be
adding to the store of scientific knowledge, ei- brief,” said von Scholtz, “I’ve come to study, to
ther from the discovery of new facts, or by the unravel, to explode or to explain, scientifically,
revealing with certainty the trickeries of the art, if possible, the extraordinary performance of
or by proving or disproving certain psychologi- India’s magicians; but first, I wish to make the
cal theories he had in mind, which theories acquaintance and win the confidence of an adept
would account for the abnormal phenomena re- in this line. I cannot afford to waste time with a
vealed or seemingly revealed by the Magician. tyro. I want a real problem to solve, if they are
Also, that in view of his interest in the subject, capable of giving me one. You understand what
he was willing to exile himself in the wilds of I mean? What is the prospect? What do you
India, if the Directors would bear but half the know about their magic ?”
expense until he should be able to scientifically
account for the Magician’s art. “Well,” said Blake, cautiously, “there are
some magicians here in this city who perform
With such enthusiasm shown by one of their feats, or reveal what seem to be remarkable
ablest scientists, the Regents lost no time in phenomena, beyond me to explain. The greatest
electing Doctor von Scholtz to represent the expert among them, or rather the one to whom
University in the investigation of the Art of In- many go for instruction, gave a performance,
dia’s Magicians. here in the city just three days ago. He lives in
Northern India. He was to have left the city to-
Von Scholtz was a “big” man, both mentally day. They say he gives a performance in a cer-
and physically, muscular, but not fleshy, straight tain cave, known as Black Cat Cave, up in the
as an arrow; a great scholar, a keen observer.

1

Himalaya Mountains, that members of his own along with him, “Providing,” he said, “you are
cult cannot follow and keep their sanity. I have sure your trip will not prove useless, for it is but
heard of some of his followers leaving the cave fair to warn you that any man who will under-
for very fear before his performance was fairly take to study me and my work must have nerves
begun. The Magician himself claims that there of steel and be a stranger to fear. So far, I have
is no man living who can go with him from the been unable to discover such a man.”
mouth of the cave to the end and back again,
when once he has started his performance. “You will find me qualified,” was von
Scholtz’s brief reply. The toot of the engine’s
“If you think this man will interest you I’ll whistle was the signal for “all aboard.” With a
phone and find out if he has left the city.” “Do farewell to Blake, the two experts boarded the
be so kind, Mr. Blake,” said the Professor. train.
“Time will drag while I wait.” Blake hurried to
the hotel phone, and having satisfied himself, Their tickets showed that Rawal was their
returned with the information that the great Ma- destination, about twelve hundred miles north-
gician would leave on the 5:15 train for his west, in the Punjab Province. The trip proved
home in the north, that he could not change his uneventful and somewhat tiresome to the Psy-
plans, but that he would be delighted to meet chologist.
Professor von Scholtz.
When they reached Rawal, Marbado secured
Blake took out his watch and said, “We have mules and attendants to transport himself and
a good half hour to make the train. It is now companion and their belongings to the Indus
4:45.” Professor von Scholtz was quick to see River Trail into the rugged Himalaya Mountains
his opportunity; he decided to take his baggage still a day’s journey further on.
with him to the station, so that in case he could
not persuade the Magician to stop over in the They reached camp about 6 p.m.
city another fortnight, he would in that case go The mouth of the famous cave was about a
with him, if it were even to go half way round hundred yards from the camp. Professor von
the world. Scholtz felt the need of a good night’s rest be-
fore permitting himself to witness the art of the
Accordingly, von Scholtz made known his Magician, and besides this, he wanted to go
intentions to Blake, who lost no time and soon through the cave alone the next day to see that
had a conveyance at the Professor’s disposal. there was nothing of a tricky or deceptive nature
about the cave or its contents.
When they arrived at the station, they found The next day he satisfied himself on these
the Magician waiting. “Marbado,” said Blake, points and he felt sure that whatever happened,
greeting the Magician, “shake hands with Pro- or seemed to happen, it would be the result of
fessor von Scholtz, my friend and former in- his own thoughts, influenced possibly by the
structor, and one of the world’s leading psy- thoughts of the Magician. “Could he fully over-
chologists, and I may add” (turning to the Pro- come the suggestions of the Magician?” He was
fessor) “that Marbado has no peer in India as a not sure.
magician.” Nothing could be decided until the first test
came, but of one thing he did feel certain, was
The two distinguished men greeted each that he could walk to the end of the cave and out
other. Professor von Schultz got right down to again, if it were a physical possibility to do so,
business and offered to pay Marbado liberally if and this was the supreme test Marbado required
be would remain in the city another fortnight, and claimed that no man could perform save
that he might have an opportunity to witness his himself, when his performance once began and
performances. during its operation.

Marbado could make no alterations in his
plans, but instead invited the Professor to go

2

After von Scholtz had examined the cave, he Marbado, still leading the way, again sprang
swung his hammock near the mouth of it to suddenly aside and called to the Professor to
watch that no one should enter until the Magi- look out for the cobra. Von Scholtz saw the
cian and himself should enter together. This was floor literally covered with the poisonous
to reduce the possibility of fraud to the mini- snakes. Marbado advised retiring so as to give
mum. the cobras a chance to settle for the night, that
they themselves could pass on unmolested and
“Well,” said Marbado, approaching the alert without interruption of the exhihition of his art.
scientist, “are you ready for the ordeal ?” “‘Or-
deal’ is a strong word,” said von Scholtz. “But I The two men then walked to the mouth of
am ready. Have you no other instructions to the cave and sat until midnight, talking over
give?” matters of scientific import, thus giving the co-
bras, as von Scholtz supposed, a chance to settle
“None,” said the Magician, “except that you back in their den.
go to the end of this cave and out again regard-
less of what you will see, hear, feel or think, and This was an adroit move on Marbado’s part,
regardless of what becomes of me. I assure you, as it subtly suggested a simple and natural situa-
however, that no bodily harm will come to you. tion, liable to occur in any rocky region where
The cave will be lighted by our own personal reptiles abound. Marbado finally arose and said
presence, but if you are in any doubt, or suspect “I think, Professor, the cobras have settled for
any trickery, take your light with you, though the night, and if we move cautiously we can get,
you will find it a hinderance, as it will interfere by without disturbing them; then I can entertain
with your vision. you with my art.” So saying Marbado led the
way, his companion following.
“I’ll hold on to it for a while,” said the Pro-
fessor, “and if I find it superfluous, I’ll abandon When the leader had reached that part of the
it.” cave where the cobras had checked their pro-
gress earlier in the evening, he gave forth an
Such was the drift of their conversation as unearthly yell, and fell. The Professor saw that a
they approached the mouth of the cave. Just as cobra had fastened itself to Marbado’s right
the Magician entered the mouth of the cave, he hand and from either side of the cave the ven-
sprang to one side, to avoid the stroke of a cobra omous reptiles issued by the hundreds soon
that sprang at him. “These reptiles are most covering the prostrate body until it seemed one
lively at night, Professor,” he said, “and we are writhing mass.
liable to encounter their den before our perform-
ance begins.” This was something unexpected, Von Scholtz stood transfixed, horrified, yes,
and caused von Scholtz to hesitate for just a petrified with fear, but as we have noted before,
moment, when he essayed to jump over the ser- he was not the man to yield for any length of
pent. “Wait, Professor, and take no chances; time to any such emotions. He needed time for
these reptiles are deadly,” and as Marbado thought, so he withdrew to a safe distance to
spoke, he hurled a rock and crushed the cobra. think the matter over, there being no time limit
set for his task. If this were a natural phenome-
The cave was about three miles long, accord- non instead of an exhibition of magic, certainly
ing to von Scholtz’s measurements during the he was justified in withdrawing from the cave,
day. When the two men were about a hundred but if, on the other hand, it were but the first
yards inside, the cave lit up from some mysteri- trick deftly executed by the Magician, his duty
ous source to about the intensity of early dawn, to science and to his own self-respect demanded
so that it was possible for the two men to distin- that he should carry out his part of the program.
guish each other’s features, so von Scholtz find- This was a matter for him alone to decide.
ing his torch superfluous, discarded it. Again, if it were a mere trick, how could he ac-

3

count for the fact that his own senses were mak- cian, but the Hindu maintained his distance
ing false reports unless he conceded that he was without apparent effort.
already under the magician’s spell? If the things
he saw were real, and he attempted to pass fur- Suddenly, a wall of rock was seen to stretch
ther into the cave, his death would be certain across the cave. Marbado passed through an
and terrible. How should he, how could he, de- opening, and the wall silently but immediately
cide? closed, leaving a solid barrier between the psy-
chologist and the Magician. Von Scholtz knew
Von Scholtz looked at his problem from this was not the end wall of the cave, for he had
every conceivable angle; he recalled every cir- noticed during the day that it was formed of
cumstance of the early evening; the cobra at the granite, while this obstructing wall was more of
entrance of the cave; the natural and suggestive the nature of marble. Von Scholtz walked up to
surroundings; their conversation; Marbado’s the wall and slapped it with his open hand, then
remarks and the killing of the cobra; and his he kicked it; then he picked up a rock and
own expectation of seeing Marbado perform his pounded it, but all to no purpose for the wall
magic after they should have passed the cobra’s stood as solid as the mountain itself.
den. All this convinced him that the Magician’s
work had already begun, and that he had been “I see my mistake,” said the Professor,
caught unawares at the very beginning. With throwing away the rock as if disgusted with
this analysis, he tried to dehypnotize himself; at himself at his blundering. “To try to knock the
any rate, upon some such hypothesis he resolved wall down is to admit that it is there and but
to advance regardless of personal consequences. adds to its solidity by hammering away at it.
The truth is, the wall does not exist as an objec-
As he again approached the prostrate form tive fact. I should have walked on and not
covered with animated venom, cold perspiration slapped, kicked and hammered at it; and I
covered his person. He hesitated; there was but should have looked on it only as a form of
one passage; the cave was narrow, and if he ad- thought which the Magician would have me ac-
vanced, it must be over the body of Marhado cept as an objective reality, but which I deny.”
covered with the squirming serpents. So saying, he closed his eyes and walked
straight ahead and passed the apparent obstruc-
“These are not real cobras,” said von Scholtz tion without hindrance, the wall disappearing as
aloud, as if addressing Marbado, “and they have mist before the sun.
no place in a normal mind.” And as he spoke, he
walked straight over their yielding bodies, but As von Scholtz hastened on deeper into the
he screamed with pain as the cobras struck from cave, he heard the voices of men some distance
right and left, but he kept right on going until he ahead of him. They seemed to be in distress; he
had passed over them. peered into the gloomy distance in front of him
and soon descried two men running toward him,
What an experience for a man in his right pursued by a Bengal tiger. The man in front, in
mind to pass through and still maintain his san- his haste to escape, brushed so close to the Pro-
ity! The Professor stood for a moment wiping fessor that the learned man was knocked off his
the perspiration from his face while his heart feet. When he arose, he saw the tiger had caught
beat like an approaching drum corps. He felt and was eating the other man, but a few yards
greatly relieved, however, and somewhat trium- from him.
phant in that he had overcome the first barrier.
The mangling of the human form was sick-
Again he proceeded farther into the cave, but ening. Instinctively the Professor started to
he had not gone far when he saw Marbado walk- leave the cave, but he did not go far when he
ing ahead of him, as though nothing unusual had began to realize that this was shirking his duty.
happened to him; he tried to overtake the Magi- So, facing about again, he reasserted himself

4

and leaving the evidence of his senses, advanced rending, but were soon hushed by the relentless
toward the scene of carnage. Not without diffi- fingers of Death. “Here is a real phenomenon,
culty, however. unexpected, sudden, unavoidable, and beyond
the control of any magician,” thought the
Aside from the sight of the ferocious beast learned man, “and this immense gap in the floor
and his half-eaten prey, the sound of cracking of the cave makes it a physical impossibility for
bones in the ferocious jaws, one sense seeming me to get over it.”
to corroborate the testimony of the other, a hard
proposition to get over. Yet, nevertheless, the To cross the chasm was indeed a perplexity.
scientist said, “These are also illusions,” and in When the earth had ceased trembling, von
saying it showed his faith in his reasoning and Scholtz climbed upon a large rock that had
advanced. But in doing so, he received a stun- fallen near him and sat upon it for a long time
ning blow from the tiger’s paw, managing only with eyes half closed, his head resting against
to stagger past before he fell, rising as quickly, the side of the cave as if in deep thought. When
seeing neither beast nor his prey. They had van- at last he opened his eyes and climbed down
ished! from the rock, he said, “I know I take my life in
my hands, but I’ll try it.” He walked deliber-
Encouraged by his continued success, he ately up to the abyss and looking down, saw far
went deeper into the cave, wondering what he below a fiery mass of molten rock and just
would encounter next and whether or not he above the molten mass he saw upon a ledge of
could keep right on without hesitating and turn- rock the mangled form of one of the unfortunate
ing back at every fresh obstacle or supposed ob- miners, hanging as though ready to drop into the
stacle encountered. cauldron below where doubtless his comrade
had met his fate. The sight only served to
He was beginning to feel quite confident strengthen the testimony of his senses and he
when his attention was arrested, this time by withdrew from the scene with a shudder.
four men, also about a hundred yards ahead,
coming towards him, whose tools and dress in- He walked a short distance, still in deep
dicated that they were miners. They were evi- thought. Time was passing and he must come to
dently amused at something, as they chatted and a decision. The thought of retreat was more and
laughed, just as workmen are wont to do when more distasteful to him since he had come so
their shift of toil is over. It all seemed so realis- far; still he wanted to be sure he was right in
tic, and after all, just what one might expect un- distinguishing the real from the unreal. Again he
der similar conditions. He heard much of their turned toward the chasm, saying: “I must prove
talk and understood some of their coarse jokes. my faith in my own course of reasoning.” So
“This surely is not magic,” thought the Profes- with a steady tread, he faced again the awful
sor, “but life itself.” Still there was nothing like cleft, but as he looked down his courage once
being prepared for surprises. Suddenly the earth more failed him. He grew desperate, censuring
trembled! The men stopped joking and looked himself for his weakness. With a tremendous
serious and fear-stricken, and one asked his effort, he set his jaw, clenched his fists, and set-
comrades in whisper “Was that an earthquake?” ting out with a firm tread, this time looking up-
Almost immediately a still more violent shaking ward, ignoring the sight beneath his feet, walked
of the earth followed, a large boulder fell from straight ahead. For an instant he felt a swim-
the roof of the cave, crushing two of the work- ming sensation, but only for an instant, for in-
men. The other two, terror-stricken, came rush- stead of falling, he found the floor of the cave as
ing toward von Scholtz, but before reaching him solid as ever.
they fell into a chasm that opened in the floor of
the cave—this chasm doubtless the result of the Von Scholtz knew he was nearing the end of
earthquake! Their cries as they fell were heart- the cave, so he hastened his steps.

5

How came that ball of light bounding and pearance that contributed to his well-being,
rebounding from the back of the cave? There though he knew it to be false, he would use if it
was no time to reason about it for it came to- were to his advantage to do so; for example: af-
ward him with such force as to fell him to the ter having calculated the unusual amount of ex-
ground so violently that he lay there a long time ercise he had made in coming through the rug-
as one dead. Consciousness returning, however, ged cave and the length of time he had been
he arose, and feeling no pain from the fall, without water, he concluded his thirst was genu-
walked straight to the end of the cave and placed ine, but having noticed the absence of water in
his hand on the back wall, thus finishing one- the cave during the previous day, its presence
half of the arduous and nerve-wracking task he was now an appearance only, and if he drank or
had undertaken in the interests of science. seemed to drink, and the seeming water
quenched, or seemed to quench his thirst, would
As von Scholtz faced about, ready to retrace this yielding to Marbado’s suggested water pre-
his steps to the mouth of the cave, it was not vent him from reaching the mouth of the cave?
surprising that he should heave a sigh of relief Or, again, if the seeming water appeared to
over the fact that he had accomplished some- quench his thirst, would not he be less fatigued
thing no man had ever done before. His experi- than if he tried to get along without the water or
ence in doing this, however, did not make him tried to think he was not thirsty?
feel overconfident in his ability to return without
great care and study of each condition he might Some psychologists hold to the theory that
now encounter. Moreover, he already felt the moment a subject yields to the suggestions
greatly fatigued. He sat down a few moments to of another, he virtually renounces his objective
rest, inclined to give way to a feeling of drowsi- mind and becomes the obedient servant to carry
ness. He felt hungry, too, though thirst dis- out the will of another.
tressed him more.
Von Scholtz accepted this theory with some
Part II reservations, namely; (a) that it depended
somewhat upon the subject to be influenced; (b)
As he sat leaning with his head against the upon the purpose the subject has in being influ-
wall of the cave, he was consuming a great deal enced; (c) and upon what mental reservations he
of mental energy by trying to overcome his keeps while submitting to the suggestions of
sense of weariness, and by trying to ignore the another.
demands of physical appetites, and in this situa-
tion, he fell asleep. The learned Professor held that if a subject
knows definitely what he wants and is deter-
When he awoke he heard the gentle splash- mined to get it at all hazards, that even though
ing of water, he arose to investigate and found a he submits to a suggestion unacceptable to rea-
spring of water issuing from the wall a few feet son, so that the objective mind of the subject is
from him. His thirst was burning! Should he set adrift in an abnormal direction, the subjec-
drink the water? Was this thirst genuine, or was tive mind will nevertheless not cease to carry
it a false sensation superimposed by the out its own normal purposes during the time the
thoughts of the Magician? He must get down to contrary influence is at work.
first principles and not be thrown off at a tan-
gent. It would be possible in that case for an indi-
vidual to act as having two personalities work-
The thing he had started out to do was not ing at cross purposes, the objective mind of the
yet accomplished and all the sensations and ap- subject being obedient to the will of the sug-
pearances that hindered him from returning to gester and the subjective mind of the subject
the mouth of the cave were to be regarded as carrying out his own will. In holding to this the-
false and misleading, but any sensation or ap- ory, Von Scholtz did not underestimate the art,

6

the skill, or the strength of Marbado. On the “As a host,” said the subtle Hindu, “I have
contrary, he had reasons aplenty to acknowledge been very neglectful of your comfort. You have
them as potent factors to be weighed carefully been forty-eight hours without your usual ne-
before he would drink of the magic water. His cessities, but you seem to be prospering in spite
mission was not only to convince Marbado that of my neglect; you know the mind works best
he could get to the end of the cave and out when the stomach has an occasional rest.”
again, but that he was there also to study at first
hand from a scientific standpoint Marbado’s “You are right,” replied the Professor. “We
methods, and if he went out of the cave again as Germans are great eaters, but really, I had not
he came in by denying or ignoring the things he thought of my needs until I reached the end of
saw, he would be very little wiser than when he the cave, being so completely taken up with the
came in, so that in order to enter into a more fascinating study of your art.”
thorough study of his subject he must abandon
his subjective mind to Marbado’s art, enter into Von Scholtz, having finished what he re-
the spirit of the occasion and follow the motives garded as a feast, looked in the direction of
of the Magician. To do this he felt the purpose Marbado, but the Magician had vanished.
of science would be better served and the real
genius of the Magician the better understood. Von Scholtz was not the man to be dis-
tracted from the problem before him. He saw
He was aware, of course, that life or limb, or everything, it is true, and noted its qualities for
both, were being jeopardized but in Von this was part of his mission, but the one great
Scholtz’s estimate, the scientist should devote thing he had set out to do was not yet accom-
his life to the finding of the truth, and if it were plished. Believing himself no longer in the cave,
lost in its pursuit, it had served its purpose. So and searching as he thought in the open country
reasoning, he stooped and drank of the magic for it, we must admit he had passed in a degree
water and felt greatly relieved, but in looking under Marbado’s influence.
about him he found himself in an open country;
the cave was not visible to his senses. Could he regain the mouth of the cave now
that he had submitted his subjective mind to be
To all appearances, the fields were green, the controlled by Marbado’s suggestion? Let us fol-
sky blue, the sun shone and the birds sang, the low him and see where his own subjective mind
scenery was new, the landscape unfamiliar, the leads him and see if possible in what way the
fauns were docile and numerous, and the flow- Magician controls his subjective mind.
ers were beautiful and fragrant, the plumage of
the birds brilliant, and their songs remarkable After having partaken of the magic water
for sweetness. and of the magic meal, we observe Von Scholtz
has already lost his objective sense of locality in
But where was the cave? He arose to inves- the fact that he does not know that he is still in
tigate. He had not taken many steps when he the cave but he thinks he is in an open country,
noticed behind a clump of bushes a banquet ta- and his objective mind, controlled by Marbado,
ble spread for a feast with a tempting meal upon is wandering about in the shadows of the super-
it. “This will serve my purpose as did the wa- imposed thought to find his way again into the
ter,” said the Professor and he sat down to eat. cave.
As he did so, he saw Marbado seated at the op-
posite side of the table. “Well, comrade,” said Now to find how von Scholtz’s subjective
Von Scholtz, addressing Marbado, “this is very mind is working in connection with—and yet
thoughtful of you to spread such a feast in a independent of—Marbado’s influence, we must
wilderness of difficulties. It comes in just the follow him and note his every act, and when he
nick of time. I was getting a little fagged.” comes out of his hypnotic trance, or rather when
again he is in control of his objective mind, he
will tell us in his own words what were the

7

thoughts and influences that caused him to theories, but I shall not go into that now. I will
think, feel, and act in an abnormal way. relate to you, however, my experience after I
partook of your magic hospitality. You know, of
We see von Scholtz walking up and down course, I lost my bearings as to the whereabouts
the cave as though in a partial trance, first very of the cave and sought my way out. My objec-
steadily, but with hands up and fists closed and tive mind being controlled by you, it was abso-
a foot and a half apart as if he were holding lutely of no service to me. I saw what you
something such as a wheel which every now and would have me see and heard and felt what you
then he would turn slightly to the right, then to would have me hear and feel, but you did not
the left. His countenance was serene as though make me swerve from my course, because I had
he were contented, but soon he looked more se- previously charged my own subconsciousness
rious as he turned the wheel more often, began definitely with what I wanted and was deter-
staggering like a drunken man as he walked mined to get at all hazards. What you did was to
along within the cave. But as he neared the influence my objective mind with the experi-
mouth of the cave, the contortions of his face, ence which I will now relate.
the quick turning to the right, then to the left, his
sudden glance up to the roof of the cave and “I was trying to find the cave and get back to
down to its floor denoted that his objective mind its mouth regardless of the mental picture I had
was greatly alarmed. of a strange open country. I followed what I
thought was a path through the woods and
When he reached the mouth of the cave he found a lake upon which near a landing was a
fell over exhausted into a sound sleep. yacht at anchor. I inspected the yacht and found
it in perfect condition and started to sail across
While in this condition, Marbado found him the lake in the direction in which I thought the
and called his attendants to bring a stretcher and cave lay. A slight breeze was blowing in a fa-
carry the Professor to his tent. vorable direction, the water smooth, so that I
saw distinctly the pebbly bottom of the lake.
Evidently the Professor’s subconscious self After having sailed for an hour or more, the
directed him through the cave to its mouth, shore toward which I was sailing appeared
while at the same time the Magician was using much farther away than when I started and the
his influence to baffle the Professor’s objective shore I had left behind seemed but a few rods
mind, causing the unusual antics of the learned behind the vessel, yet I was travelling at a brisk
man as he wended his way to his determined rate of speed, for the breeze was fast becoming
goal. a wind and the bottom of the lake, distinctly
seen, was sweeping past at a rapid rate.
After Von Scholtz was allowed to sleep for
some time, Marbado struck two loud raps on a “I felt the influence of your mind trying to
gong to call him to dine. At the second stroke, turn me back to the shore I had left, because the
Von Scholtz opened his eyes, looked around shore was near and easy to reach, while in front
bewildered, took in the situation, then stretched of me difficulties multiplied. The wind was
out his hands to Marbado and said: “How did turned to a gale; tiny clouds were noticed ahead;
you do it, Marbado, how did you do it ?” The the gentle lake was becoming transformed into a
Magician smiled and said: “I might ask you the turbulent sea but on I sailed, straight ahead. The
same question, Professor, how did you do it? storm was upon me, great black clouds hurried
You went to the end of the cave and out again about as scouts preparing for battle, shutting off
and I did my best to stop you, but you won. the light of the sun that I might not escape,
Now tell me how you did it.” while behind their sombre skirts was concealed
the artillery of heaven. A distant peal of thunder
Von Scholtz sat silently for a moment, as if
to collect his thoughts and said: “Marbado, I
would not have missed this experience for a mil-
lion dollars. It has substantiated some of my

8

was the signal for action. The lightning’s flash water and as I stretched out my hands as if to
revealed ahead a yawning whirlpool toward swim, I felt something hard and clutched it with
which I was fast approaching; as if to mock me, all the desperation of a drowning man.
it as suddenly withdrew the light and dyed the
air an inky blackness. Rain fell in torrents. The “It soon dawned on me that I was not in the
thunder rolled on in derision, while the wind water at all, but in a submarine in which I found
laughed diabolically as she snatched the rigging myself giving orders to its crew as if it were my
from my vessel, and set me adrift as in a tub, but accustomed duty. The vessel was completely
through all this, my subconscious mind forsook under my control, delving to the bottom of the
not its assigned position and held me to the ves- sea or rising at will to its surface by manipulat-
sel, steering straight ahead. It was tossed up and ing a series of levers placed conveniently at
down, side-wise, round and round, this rotary hand.
motion becoming more and more apparent even
among the warring elements. The winds and “I saw in the distance as I arose to the sur-
waves no longer tossed my frail bark, but it was face an enemy battleship appearing. I sub-
borne steadily round and round a central point merged my craft, steered to the leeward of the
that lay far below me, but toward which I was vessel and gave a command, ‘Fire.’ At the re-
steadily approaching. The noise of the whirlpool port of the explosion I saw a great smoke arise
was deafening. As I sank deeper and deeper into from my target and the vessel parted in two and
the vast funnel I almost regretted my decision in sank. I sailed boldly forward and spied another
assuming that the magic phenomena were natu- vessel coming toward me, but before I could fire
ral, but whether real or imaginary, I seemed to or submerge, I saw a flash from the enemy’s
have lost control of the craft in which I was sail- vessel and almost instantly I felt the rude shock
ing. and heard a loud explosion as my submarine
went to pieces. I thought surely my end had
“I found it too late to recede from the mental come, but being still conscious, I decided to
attitude I had taken. There was nothing to do but open my eyes in order to note what the bottom
to face the awful consequences of my chosen of the sea looked like, and as soon as I had
method of research. Swiftly and more swiftly I opened them, I was greatly surprised and cha-
was whirled around the vortex when suddenly grined to find myself in your tent.”
the noise of the whirlpool ceased for a second
and nothing could have stopped its hungry bel- Marbado arose and, taking the Professor’s
low save food for its insatiable maw which I and hand and pressing it warmly, replied: “You
my vessel furnished and which were swallowed surely had a right to be surprised, Professor, but
in one gulp. I met my doom, or at least thought I hardly to be chagrined. You have met my condi-
had, but instead of blank forgetfulness, as I had tion and won. If there is to be any chagrin, it
expected, I found myself still conscious in the shall be mine.”

Then taking a Medal of Distinction from his
own breast, he pinned it on the Professor’s.

9