Dan, Texas, an' the others, while Colonel Sterett acquires his licker, shakes their heads dumbly as showin' they gives it up.
"'Which you'd shorely never guess!' retorts the Colonel, wipin' his lips.

'Of a sudden, this wizard tugs somethin' outen his pocket that looks like a ball of kyarpet-rags.

Holdin' one end, quick as thought he tosses the ball of kyarpet-rags into the air.

It goes straight up ontil lost to view, onwindin' itse'f in its flight because of the wizard holdin' on.
"'Gents, that ball of kyarpet-rags never does come down no-more! An' it's all done as easy as a set-lock rifle! The wizard climbs the danglin' string of kyarpet-rags, hand over hand; then he drifts off an' up'ards ontil he don't look bigger than a bumble-bee; an' then he's lost in the gatherin' shadows of the Jooly night.
"'Squar' Alexanders, Chet, an' the village stands strainin' their eyes for twenty minutes.

But the wizard's vamosed; an' at last, when each is convinced tharof, the grown folks led by Squar' Alexanders reepairs back into the tavern an' takes another drink.' "'That's a mighty marvellous feat your necromancer performs, Colonel,' remarks Enright, an' the old chief is grave as becomes the Colonel's revelations; 'he's a shore-enough wonder-worker, that wizard is!' "But I ain't got to the wonders none as yet,' reemonstrates the Colonel, who spunks up a bit peevish for him.