The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1877-07-27

eyes"
sit is very easy"
"Tell me the way"
81 will show you," said Houdin, quiet.
ly.
The Arab was all attention.
"Take pistol, load it yourself. Here
are bullets. Put one in the barrel But
stop
For what2 ?"
"Mark the bullet with your knife, so that
you may know it."
The Arab did as ne was told.
"You are quite certain now," said
Houdin, "that the pistol is properly load
d."
"Yes."
"Tell me, do you feel no remorse in kill
ing me thus, even though l consent ?"
1t is strange"
"You are my enemy" he coldly answer
ed, "and l will kill you"
"Wait but moment"
Houdin then stuck an apple on the
point OF a knife, and calmly gave the
word, as he held the fruit raised in one
hand;
"Firep'
The pistol was discharged, the apple flew
far away, and there appeared in its place,
stuck on the point of the knife, the bullet
the Marabout had marked. The specta-
tors, though aroused to intense excitement
of feeling, remained mute with stupefac-
ton, while the Marabout bowed before his
superior, saying
"Allah is great. am vanquished."
Great was the triumph of the French
2 lizard
Eoudin then called for an empty bowl,
which he kept constantly full of boiling
coffee, though but few of the Arabs would
taste of it, for they were sure that it was
the evil ones coifee-pot from whence it
came.
He then told them that it was within
his power to deprive them of all strength,
and to restore it to them at will, and he
produced in illustration a small box, so
light that a child could lift it with the
fingers.
And now came their establishment.
This box suddenly became so heavy that
the strongest man present could not raise
it, and the Arabs, who prize physical
strength above everything, looked with
terror upon the magician, Who they
doubted not, could annihilate them by the
mere exertion of his will.
The people expressed this belief, in
which Houdin, of course, confirmed them,
and promised that at day appointed he
would convert one of them into smoke.
The day came, and the throng was pro-
digious. A fanatical Marabout had aged
to give himself up to the French sorcerer
for the experiment.
The preparations were on grand scale.
The Marabout was made to stand upon
a table, and was covered with transparent
gauze. Then Houdin and another person
lifted the table by the ends, when the
Arab disappeared in a profuse cloud of
smoke. The terror of the spectators was
They rushed out of the
place, and ran long distance before some
of. the boldest could make up their minds
to return and look upon the Marabout.-
They found him near the spot where he had
so mysteriously disappeared, but he could
not answer their questionable could tell
them nothing at all-and only gazed wildly
at them like one bereft of his senses. He
was entirely ignorant of what had happen
ed to him.
This was Houdin's closing exhibition in
Arabia. He had filled the minds of the
people with wonder, he was venerated by
all, while the pretentious Marabouts were
in utter disgrace. Their influence was
banished. He had met these conjurors on
their own ground, and had, in most in
credibly short time, completely vanquish-
ed them.
The object of the French government
was completely attained, and Houdin re-
turned to his home. He had made no Pc
cuniary terms with the minister of foreign
affairs before obeying his orders; but so
we'll satisfied was the government with
his remarkable success, that, besides pay
ing all his expenses, he was presented
with check upon the treasury for $4,000
francs.
Such is single chapter in the life of
famous French wizard.