ibly uncanny about the snake."

"Do you think it was a real snake, Doctor?"

"That I cannot tell you, Richards. Every movement was perfectly natural.
I could see the working of the ribs as it wound itself round the girl,
and the quivering of its tongue as it raised its head above her. At any
other time I should be ready to take my affidavit that it was a python
of unusual size, but at the present moment I should not like to give a
decided opinion about anything connected with the performance."

"I suppose it is no use asking the juggler any questions, Hunter?" one
of the other men said.

"Not in the least; they never do answer questions. The higher class of
jugglers treat their art as a sort of religious mystery, and there is
no instance known of their opening their lips, although large sums have
frequently been offered them. In the present case you will certainly ask
no questions, for the man and girl have both disappeared with the box
and apparatus and everything connected with them. They must have
slipped off directly the last trick was over, and before we had the lamp
lighted. I sent after him at once, but the servant could find no signs
of him. I am annoyed because I have not paid them."

"I am not surprised at that," Dr. Wade said. "It is quite in accordance
with what I have heard of them. They live by exhibiting what you may
call their ordinary tricks; but I have heard from natives that when they
show any what I may call supernatural feats, they do not take money. It
is done to oblige some powerful Rajah, and as I have said, it is only on
a very few occasions that Europeans have ever seen them. Well, we may as
well go in to the ladies. I don't fancy any of them would be inclined to
come out onto the veranda again this evening."

No one was indeed inclined even for talk, and in a very short time the
party broke up and returned home.

"Come and smoke a pipe with me, Bathurst, before you turn in," the
Doctor said, as they went out. "I don't think either of us will be
likely to go to sleep for some time. What is your impression of all
this?"

"My impression, certainly, is that it is entirely unaccountable by any
laws with which we are acquainted, Doctor."

"That is just my idea, and always has been since I first saw any
really good juggling out here. I don't believe in the least in anything
supernatural, but I can quite believe that there are many natural laws
of which at present we are entirely ignorant. I