The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1893-09-10

hedlh lts branches waved ana tossed as III
II felt the fresh air of morning passing
across its verdant face A slender form
came swiftly out of the dim haze which
filled in the background to the picture.
II has my sister, and a look of wonder
shone in her hazel eyes as she seemed
looking straight across the tho usand
miles of water which divided US.
started up and the picture faded away.
l saw nothing but the Hindoo squatting
before me, holding his crystal globe aloft
and watching the faces before him with
keen lntentness.
He sat silent for a moment, then rose to
his feet and began his performance by
giving Us some of the less important
tricks Of the juggler, all the time his eyes
rowing from face to face as if he would
read each heart to its depths, and for
one felt sure that he could so read mine,
for | could feel his gaze sink deep into my
brain. | was half afraid him, but wholly
determined to do nothing to break up the
sitting
After some minor tricks of sleight of
hand and of the commoner class of leger
demain, he spoke to the girl in a harsh,
quick tone. She brought out from under
her voluminous robe small, tat silver
salver, which l noticed was entirely COW
cred by an intricate pattern of engraving.
This the man put carefully down upon the
exact center of his mat, and taking from
his bosom a small silk bag he scattered
the contents, a white powder, upon the
salver. He addressed the girl in earnest
tones, and then took his seat again upon
his mat, with his head bowed upon his
breast and his hands gripped closely to-
gether as II he was making some desper-
ate effort or was bearing some terrible
agony The girl lighted a small taper
which had been among the articles they
had brought with them and pnt it down
beside her master. Then she also stood
with bowed head and clasped her hands
for moment as if waiting some signal
from her master. She waited but for
moment, for with a shudder he raised
his head and spoke to her in quick, shrill
voice.
She in turn repeated to US his request
that we should promise that, no matter
what happened, we would none of us
move from our place If we should move
no one could tell what terrible accident
might happen. OF course we all prom
ised more or less readily, and the man, to
make sure of our obedience, beckoned us
to sit closer together in a ring almost
touching the mat upon which he sat. We
did so, laughing and crowding together,
and when we had taken the required posi-
ton he spoke TO the girl, who immediate
ly caught up the signal line and pro-
ceeded to arrange it in ring surround
ing our little group as we sat around our
entertainer.
AS soon as she had completed her task
she took her station within the ring, and,
dropping her outer robe, stood in a closer
fitting undergarment, which left her
slender limbs uncovered from kne to an
kle, from wrist to shoulder
When she had taken her place the man
arose, and, muttering some incarnation in
a musical undertone, he walked around
outside the ring formed by the rope and
scattered the ashes over the line, cover
ing it from sight. He then took his place
again within the circle and after the girl
had again impressed upon US that under
no circumstances were we to move the
man took the tape in his hand, and, hold
ing it high above his head, seemed to be
invoking some power which he beheld in
the air above our heads He then stopped
and touched the fame of the taper to the
end of the rope which encircled us. The
flame crept along the cord,
and wherever it lighted a change took
place in the substance of the cord 1t
began to writhe and twist in a very life
like manner The flame crept around the
circle, and the slender line which we had
all seen taken from our own signal chest
was suddenly turned to twisting, gleaIn-
ing serpent, which coiled and twined
around our circle, kissing and darting out
its fangs at every motion. 1t was one of
the most deadly of the many venomous
serpents of the country, and we Shrank
together with horror.
IF the strangers sit silent nothing can
HARM" said the girl, with a warning ges-
ture
We sat still-we could do nothing else
and the juggler stood erect and began
again the melodious chant which had ac-
cOmpanied his scattering of the ashes.
But then it was inarticulate; now he
seemed demanding aid from the higher
power Tor lower, as you choose, and his
eyes were lighted up until they seemed
burning Goals, and | wondered that they
did not scorch my face when he glanced
at me
He raised the silver salver with its con-
tents, and, holding it high above his
head, waited for moment in silence.
A flash, and the powder on the salver
burst into flames. He lowered it to the
deck, and the flames died away, leaving
behind a mist of smoke, family fragrant,
which settle lower and lower around US
until we viewed all objects through it's
dim haze
glanced behind to the hammock where
the two children were lying to see if they
were frightened, but baby was sleeping,
and Nera was swinging and humming to
herself as she played with her doll. She
lay with her head upon baby's skirts
and he had one little hand buried in her
hair.
At this time the serpent had twisted
and writhed around us, and the hindoo
had kept up his low wailing chant. The
girl stood with bowed head close beside
him, and the smoke seemed to bend and
Irvine about her form until it grew dim
and seemed to wave and sway as if in
breeze.
Then all at once she raised her arms
and slowly, softly floated upward on the
cloud waves like leaf rising on the ed
dying winds. The chant grew more
rapid, the smoke more dense, but still
through its vaporous waves we could see
the light form floating upward, still up,
until it was lost to sight far above the
top of the masts.
Louder and louder chanted the Hindoo.
The smoke rose even thicker and more
dense. We had lost sight of the girl
All eyes were turned to the spot where
she had disappeared far up above our
heads
The Hindoo stood erect in the midst of
the circle, his form swaying in rhythmic
measure with his chanting. He held his !
arms higher and his voice took on a
deeper tone. Then from far up in the !
blue void above US we saw tiny spot |
scarce visible against the azure sky. 1t |
foated downward Nearer it came, I'M |
til we could see that it was the form of |
the young girl. Lower, still lower, she |
came and we could see that she held a |