94 THE HORSE OF MR. VON OSTEN 



the case of very large numbers the alternation of the slight 

 and the sudden increase may be repeated several times, 

 and at times it may even sink below a level which has al- 

 ready been attained, thus making a wave-like curve. 



III. The third type of curve shows a sudden jump be- 

 tween two units at a certain point in its course. This 

 may occur in the case of both small and large numbers 

 but only when the highest or first degree of concentration 

 is employed (see page 91). Such a jump frequently 

 occurs in the transition from the tap preceding the last to 

 the last one which is being eagerly expected. Relax- 

 ation — with the upward jerk and raising of the head — 

 here occurs at the normal time ; Hans taps to the end with 

 his right foot. Oftener still the " jump " described oc- 

 curs while passing over to the number just before the 

 last. The goal seems within reach and the mental tension 

 relaxes, and with it the physical tension, — the head gives 

 a slight jerk and Hans makes the back-step. Since, how- 

 ever, another tap is still awaited with some degree of 

 tenseness and, since complete erection of the head does 

 not follow immediately upon the jerk of the head, the 

 horse gives another tap with the left foot. Thereupon 

 occurs the complete relaxation of attention, and the as- 

 sumption of the erect posture on the part of the ques- 

 tioner. That this is psychologically the clue which leads 

 to the final tap, will readily appear from the following 

 remarkable fact : I was able to bring about at will either 

 the back-step with the right foot, or the additional extra 

 tap with the left foot by concentrating the mind either 

 upon the last unit or upon the one just preceding it. In 

 either case the movement which served as stimulus to the 

 horse followed naturally upon concentration on the num- 

 ber. I could of course also control the response by direct 



