the stick each by one hand. He
then boldly proclaims that he proposes to pass the ring on to the
middle of the stick without either A or B letting go of their
respective ends. In order, however, not to divulge the secret he must
pass it on under cover of a handkerchief. He takes the borrowed ring
and wraps it up in the middle of the handkerchief which he asks some
one to hold, and to feel the ring wrapped up in it. In order to let
everyone know that the ring is really there, he takes the stick from A
and B and gives a tap on the ring. He then gets A and B to hold the
stick once more and persuades C, who is assisting with the
handkerchief, to hold it over the middle of the stick. The performer
holds the corner of the handkerchief and instructs C to let go his
hold on the word "three." "One! two! three!" The handkerchief is
sharply pulled away and the borrowed ring is seen to be spinning on
the middle of the stick!

[Illustration: Shah Mahommed with two assistants for The Ring on the
Stick.]

This is how it is done. The stick is an ordinary one, thin enough to
pass easily through a wedding ring. The only prepared article is the
handkerchief, in one corner of which is a duplicate wedding ring
sewn into a small pocket. It does not matter whether or no it is
exactly similar to the ring that is borrowed, as the performer takes
care that the owner of the borrowed ring does not get a chance of
feeling the duplicate even through the folds of the handkerchief. When
the performer takes the borrowed ring to fold in the handkerchief, he
folds the one that is already sewn in it, and secretes the borrowed
ring in his hand. He takes the stick from A and B to tap on the ring
folded in the handkerchief, really to slide the borrowed ring into the
middle of it. He hands the stick back to be held by A and B but keeps
his hand over the ring now on it, thus concealing it until it is
covered by the handkerchief. When the handkerchief is pulled away on
the word "three" it takes with it the ring sewn into its corner and as
it brushes the stick it makes the borrowed ring on the stick revolve
apparently as if it had just arrived in that position.

For simplicity's sake let us take the various moves as they occur.

A. Borrow a stick and hand it round for examination.

B. Get A and B to hold it at the ends.

C. Borrow a wedding ring.

D. Take the handkerchief from the pocket. (The duplicate
ring sewn in the corner