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THE STORY
Part I
Such was the drift of their conversation
as they approached the mouth of the cave. Just as the Magician entered the
mouth of the cave, he sprang to one side, to avoid the stroke of a cobra that
sprang at him. "These reptiles are most lively at night, Professor," he said,
"and we are liable to encounter their den before our performance begins." This
was something unexpected, and caused von Scholtz to hesitate for just a moment,
when he essayed to jump over the serpent. "Wait, Professor, and take no
chances; these reptiles are deadly," and as Marbado spoke, he hurled a rock and
crushed the cobra.
The cave was about three miles long,
according to von Scholtz's measurements during the day. When the two men were
about a hundred yards inside, the cave lit up from some mysterious source to
about the intensity of early dawn, so that it was possible for the two men to
distinguish each other's features, so von Scholtz finding his torch
superfluous, discarded it.
Marbado, still leading the way, again
sprang suddenly aside and called to the Professor to look out for the cobra.
Von Scholtz saw the floor literally covered with the poisonous snakes. Marbado
advised retiring so as to give the cobras a chance to settle for the night,
that they themselves could pass on unmolested and without interruption of the
exhihition of his art.
The two men then walked to the mouth of
the cave and sat until midnight, talking over matters of scientific import,
thus giving the cobras, as von Scholtz supposed, a chance to settle back in
their den.
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