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THE STORY
Part I
Nothing could be decided until the first
test came, but of one thing he did feel certain, was that he could walk to the
end of the cave and out again, if it were a physical possibility to do so, and
this was the supreme test Marbado required and claimed that no man could
perform save himself, when his performance once began and during its
operation.
After von Scholtz had examined the cave,
he swung his hammock near the mouth of it to watch that no one should enter
until the Magician and himself should enter together. This was to reduce the
possibility of fraud to the minimum.
"Well," said Marbado, approaching the
alert scientist, "are you ready for the ordeal ?" "'Ordeal' is a strong word,"
said von Scholtz. "But I am ready. Have you no other instructions to give
?"
"None," said the Magician, "except that
you go to the end of this cave and out again regardless of what you will see,
hear, feel or think, and regardless of what becomes of me. I assure you,
however, that no bodily harm will come to you. The cave will be lighted by our
own personal presence, but if you are in any doubt, or suspect any trickery,
take your light with you, though you will find it a hinderance, as it will
interfere with your vision.
"I'll hold on to it for a while," said
the Professor, "and if I find it superfluous, I'll abandon it."
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