The National tribune., 1898-12-22
CHAPTER VIII.


This" said the magician, "a gem
more precious to the wise than the AGA
mant of the East, hut i'll the hands OF the
unfaithful more penicious than the tcc'h
of a viper,-is the Irison-ht use OF an
essence that was once powerful amchg
the spirits of night. The great AGripra
wedged him in this stone; ard iron
Agrippa, when / rested at his feet IN ire
Holy City, did / receive the lnestlmaLie
gift-Kalidon-S adabathl the night is thy
season the midnight thy time OF power
The lord OF men calls thee from thy pris-
on house, the armed man calls thee WIN
the sword-Lo! he wakes from his SUM
Der, and will image out the destiny OF TIC
seeker
The cavaliers, starting, gazed behnd
them with fear, as If expecting to behcld
some mighty fiend rising shadowy iron
the floor: but no intelligence more lofty
or more ignoble than themselves was visi-
BILE in the sanctuary. They bent their
ewes upon the crystal and beheld, some
with surprise and others with deep awe,
a little drop as of some black liquid,
differing in the very center of the Jewel.
The naughty soldiers who would have
rushed with cries OF Joy upon an army OF
infidels shrank away with MUM urs OF
hesitation when Botello extended the tai
isman towards them. But they mlstook
outstretched more to display the wonder
than TO part with it, He surveyed II him.
self moment with much satisfaction;
then turning TO NarvaeZ, he said:
Lay thy hand upon the cross of thy
sword say paternoSter over IN thy
heart. and thou shalt be protected from
the mischief of this inquisition, while
tell thee what / behold in the face OF
KalidOn-Sadabath.
with your favor" cried Narvaez, sud
denly and boldly snatching the en-
chanted crystal from the hands of Botello,
81 viii choose rather to see his visage
myself. than trust to your interpretations;
and as for the protection, can con over
a paternoster while am looking: though
why il needs to bestow so much pIety
upon this iuggler S geWgaw, Is more IMAM
can understand.
. .Say at least the prayer" cried Botello
earnestly: "for neither enchanted crystal
nor consecrated gold can hold the strong
spirit from the wicked and self-suflicient. .
81 have much trust in the saints, and
In myself" said the Governor, coolly,
greatly assured and inspirited by the
harmless appearance Of the little mystery.
Nevertheless, j viii follow your counsel
I'm the matter of the prayer-the more
readily that it Will keep my mind from
wondering to more important affairs: and
because in part, / am somewhat bur
dened with the sin of neglecting such
J,,ties when there is no occasion for
them.
lie drew the lamp to him, grasped the
crystal firmly in his hands, and, lending
over ii so closely that his warm breath
suIlied its luster, regarded ii with fixed
attention. The cavaliers noted the pro
Feeding with interest; they gaZed now at
the ieweI almost concealed in his grasp,
and now at the General as his lips NUT
tered ever the inaudIble prayeT--Sudden-
w and before he had half accomplished
the task they observed his brows knit,
and his lip fall; his eye dilated with a
stare OF terrcr-a deadly paleness came
over has visage and, starting up and
loosing the talisman from his grasp, he
exclaimed wildly:
by heaven, there is living creature in
the stonei"
The sorcerer caught the magical imple-
ment as IT fell from the hands of NarvaeZ;
and, throwing himself upon his knees
while the cavaliers looked on in mute as
stOnishment, exclaimed
Forget not the prayer and be content
10 hear what is revealed by the imp of the
crystal Kalidon- Sadabathl He fingetf
abroad his arms, and is in wrath ant
trCublei"
1T is true" said Narvaez, looking to hi'
officers in perturbation. while ] looket
into the shining stone the black drop in
creased in size, and grew into the sinlili
tude Of being, whose arms were tosset
out as If in agony, while spots Of fire gath
cred round his yisagel'
Say the prayer # thou wilt not die mis-
erably before the time that is otherwi Isl
ordained cred Botello with Stern voice
that was remarkable enough 10 be ad
dressed by one OF his station 10 the pTou,
and powerful commander. Once. twice
Ay! is there no more 10 be reckoDed b
thee. SaGabathy Once, twico-Yea. a
the star sayeth, so sayeth thCu-Once
twice :.
ny the prayer he had resumed to ques
tion the crao uicus adept
To thy prayer Listen and ask not
Ay, theu sPeakest in mystery, ! tur
thee 20 the north, which thou knewes
not and the south where thou hadst tn
DWELLING the east. which thou al
houest, and To the west, where was tn
dark chamber; TO the heaven, who's
light thou lowest MOTTO the pit unde
the earth, where thou vast wanderer
and TO mans heart, which was pleasantt
10 thee than the bonds Of the crystal. ]
the. name Of the Seven that are OF pows
under the cath, and Of the Seven that ar
mighty above, ! call to thee, Kaldor
Sabbath, the bright star that is quencI
ed Ia shadows, in fire and smoke Il
thunder and with spears with blows an
with bloodshed, thou speakest, and hes
theer
Il hear nothing save thy accurse
cToaking worse than that OF the crows
BIScay,' cried NarvaeZ. hotly. IF liz
devil have no more ineligible gabbl,
cast him out and call another"
He speaks not but by images an
phantasms pictured on the crystal.-No
listen, for thy story cometh. / see
great house ON fire"
"Ay, ! shall perish, then, in a conf;
grafton" said the Governor hastily
have ever had a horror Of turnin
houses"
The smoke edCies. the flame roars
and one stitch blipa old under Iaa eax.e.
with the fakes and cinders falling abou
him, which he sees not
IF thou meanest lat / shall rest i
q at stupid state under such peril, ia
d. vii Sabbath is liar, and defy him
And he that takes thee by the hand
cried Botello, Without regarding the intel
Tuptions-"is he thy friend?'
Ay, answer nae that question: sal