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THE STORY
Part II
While in this condition, Marbado found
him and called his attendants to bring a stretcher and carry the Professor to
his tent.
Evidently the Professor's subconscious
self directed him through the cave to its mouth, while at the same time the
Magician was using his influence to baffle the Professor's objective mind,
causing the unusual antics of the learned man as he wended his way to his
determined goal.
After Von Scholtz was allowed to sleep
for some time, Marbado struck two loud raps on a gong to call him to dine. At
the second stroke, Von Scholtz opened his eyes, looked around bewildered, took
in the situation, then stretched out his hands to Marbado and said: "How did
you do it, Marbado, how did you do it ?" The Magician smiled and said: "I might
ask you the same question, Professor, how did YOU do it? You went to the end of
the cave and out again and I did my best to stop you, but you won. Now tell me
how you did it."
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 million dollars. It has substantiated some of my theories, but
I shall not go into that now. I will relate to you, however, my experience
after I partook of your magic hospitality. You know, of course, I lost my
bearings as to the whereabouts of the cave and sought my way out. My objective
mind being controlled by you, it was absolutely of no service to me. I saw what
you would have me see and heard and felt what you would have me hear and feel,
but you did not make me swerve from my course, because I had previously charged
my own subconsciousness definitely with what I wanted and was determined to get
at all hazards. What you did was to influence my objective mind with the
experience which I will now relate.
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