Meanwhile, the magician was thinking over his very best tricks. At last he said, solemnly: "This time I 'll show you something worth seeing!"
Then he wiped his wand in the skirt of his robe, and pronounced a long incantation, while the wizard pretended to be very tired of it. As the ncantation proceeded, a crystal ball formed itself out of the air and floated before them.
"What's that for?" asked the boy, apparently much interested. "That's the biggest marble I ever saw!"
"That," said the magician with great impressiveness, not noticing who spoke, "is the magician-tester. Merlin invented it for the express purpose of putting down conceited magicians. Such is its peculiar construction that only the greatest and most powerful magician can get inside of it."
"Get into that marble!" said the boy. "I don't see what for."
"Probably not," said the magician, much amused.
"Now see here, Johnny," said the wizard, impatiently, "don't you think you'd better run home?"
"I must have my receipt signed," said the boy, positively; "besides, it's fun to see this game."
"Never mind him," said the magician. "Now, what I propose is this: You and I stand about twenty paces from the tester; then let the boy count three (for, while you pay for his time, we may as well use him). Whoever first appears in the tester shall be the winner."
"Am I in this?" asked the boy, much delighted.
"Certainly," said the magician, smiling graciously.
"Let's see if I know the game," said the boy, eagerly. "You two fellows stand a little way off, then I count three, and you two cut as fast as you can for the marble; and then whoever of us three gets into it first wins?"
