Taking the same dish, shaking the sand out of it, even taking the pains to wipe it vigorously with one corner of his robe, he reversed it on the floor. Muttering a few words over it, he lifted it and a cat appeared. He replaced the dish over the cat; after a moment lifted again, and behold, a dog instead of a cat. Replacing the dish over the dog, and after a moment lifting it again, he astonished the people with the sight of a litter of puppies. Reversing the process, he produced in succession the dog, the cat, and the empty dish.
He concluded this part of the entertainment by drawing a sword from under his mantle and swallowing it.
Next, Simon seated himself at the table, and laid the tips of his fingers upon it. Helena set a seat by his side and did the same. The two Nubians came forward, and, having removed the brazier, seated themselves on the table itself. In a few moments it began to tip, and finally fell to swaying and leaping so violently that the blacks were unable to keep their seats, though they struggled hard to do so. Having dislodged the two bulky fellows, the table rose several feet into the air and remained suspended; and the brazier with its cauldron rose gently after it and resumed its old place without any disturbance of their contents—and all the while raps and musical sounds both over and under the table were heard. The Nubians caught hold of the legs of the table and tried with all their might to pull it down; whereupon it rose still higher, dragging the men after it. Simon made a downward pass with his hand, and at once it descended gently and noiselessly to the floor.
Again Helena seated herself. Simon approached, took hold of both her hands, and looked steadily into her eyes. Shortly, relinquishing her hands, he made passes downward along her arms. Gradually her eyelids drew together and she slept.
“Now tell us what you see,” said Simon.
“I see,” said she, slowly, and as if looking afar, “a beautiful country of mountains and green valleys and crystal streams, sprinkled with flocks and herds and white-faced keepers.”
“Look again. What do you see now?” continued the magician.
“I see,” replied Helena, “a magnificent palace perched on an eminence. It is of stone; and it has around it walls and towers; and into its court-yard is now coming a caravan dusty and wayworn—loaded horses and mules and camels; and, escorting them, many armed horsemen before and behind.”
“Enter the palace. What see you now?” continued the soothsayer.