io8 HAUNTS AND HOBBIES 



lump of lead and some copper filings. These he 

 handed to us to examine, and then dropped them into 

 one of the little clay cups. He next took the small 

 tongs, and with them lifted the cup and placed it on 

 the charcoal fire, and beside it he also placed the copper 

 duck, and let it remain till it was thoroughly heated. 

 Then with the tongs he raised it and dropped it into 

 the nand of water. The heat of the fire had rarefied 

 the air within the duck ; the cold of the water now con- 

 densed it. A slight vacuum was the result, and the 

 water was forced in by the pressure of the atmosphere 

 through the small hole in the beak. When sufficient 

 water had entered, the duck was removed from the 

 nand and placed again on the fire, and we now com- 

 prehended its purpose. As the water boiled the steam 

 issued from the beak, and formed a very powerful blow- 

 pipe. In a short time, with the aid of a little borax as 

 a flux, the lead and copper were melted. During the 

 process of melting the alchemist kept dropping in at 

 short intervals various coloured powders. 



The cup was now removed from the fire, plunged in 

 the cold water, and then handed to us for inspection. 

 The lead and copper filings had disappeared, and in 

 their place, snugly nestled at the bottom of the cup, 

 lay a small lump of yellow gold. It was really gold, 

 and very pure, for I afterwards had it tested. Of course 

 the lead and copper had been removed, and the gold 

 substituted, but so cleverly that neither I nor the doctor 

 had the least idea when or how the change had been 

 effected. 



At the request of the alchemist, we now left the 



