learned and scientific man, I would give you quick despatch, you would go up like a rocket. In your case the court has given instructions that on account of the greatness of your ignorance, or as they put it, your having through ignorance committed a terrible sin, your punishment is not to be so great as it otherwise would have been. In fact, young man, you must be a great favourite with the judges, as they have instructed me to supply you with the means of guiding yourself in the air and through space, and it is for the purpose of instructing you in the use of certain instruments that I am here with my assistants. Now, hurry up! we have not long to devote to you, as time flies, do what we will to control its action."
I went to him. He first let me see what he termed the insulator. "The use of this instrument," he said, "is to destroy the earth's attraction." In a playful way, he continued:—"This is my axe, this is my rope," and he patted and fondled it as if it were some living
