The Argosy, Vol. XXIV, No. 1 — page 101: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

A MONTH IN THE MOON. IOI ‘““And this corn? How did he make it grow in less than an hour?’’ he asked.- ‘‘ For we saw it grow under our eyes.”’ This was news to Norbert, who had. of course, no explanation to give. The men looked at one another, and shoc. their heads. ‘‘Bring out the condemned man!’ said the astronomer, as he reéntered the circular passage with his followers. Virgil soon returned with the dwarf, whose countenance betokened no anxiety whatever. ‘“Stand there,’’ said Norbert, pointing to the wall. ‘‘I will read you your sentence.”’ The document that he proceeded to read aloud by the light of a torch was lengthy, and set forth all the facts of the case, concluding with the following words: 3 Wherefore, because of the aforesaid crimes of abduction, arbitrary detention, exciting to massacre, and attetnpt to entice away, the dwarf Kaddour, is condemned to the penalty of death. He will be shot ten minutes after he shall have had notice of this sentence. NORBERT MAUNY. Mabrouki translated these words to the guard, who received them in pro- found silence. It was evident that they were looking for the manifestation of the power of Kaddour by some fresh prodigy. Norbert turned to him. ‘“You have heard,’’ he said. ‘‘ One chance is still left to you. Confess and explain immediately the witchcraft whereby you tried to delude these brave warriors. If you do this «thoroughly and candidly, your life shall be spared.’’ ‘I want no favor,’’ replied Kaddour calmly, and not without some dignity. “You have still seven minutes to decide,’’ continued Norbert, taking out his chronometer. ‘‘If you -will only own to your fraud the sentence shall be commuted into imprisonment! Mabrouki, Virgil,’’ he added, ‘‘ prepare your weapons. ”’ ) ‘“T ask no favor,’’ repeated the dwarf, in a firm voice. ‘‘I will not even wait for the expiration of your seven minutes! I will hasten to taste eternal felicity, and will not tarry for your signal !”’ Saying this, he hurriedly drew from his finger a ring whose crystal bezil opened by means of a spring, and put it to his lips. ‘It is,’ he murmured ‘‘the ring of Eblis, the Angel of Death, who will conduct me to the abode of the blessed !’’ He fell back, as if struck by lightning. The doctor examined the motion- less corpse. ‘The skin was already cold, the pulse had stopped, the eyes were glassed over, the heart had ceased to beat. ‘“ Death must have been instantaneous;’’ said Briet. ‘‘ It must have been caused by some sttch rapid poison as prussic acid. But what is it, I wonder ?”’ He took the ring from the dead man’s hand. All that was left in the bezil was a faint indication of a bluish liquid, that evaporated in a few minutes, so that any analysis was out of the question. ‘“He has spared us the trouble of shooting him ; it was the best thing he Eomichook |