ts, I found a paper in my master's hand. It
mentioned fire in the forests. It mentioned rain. And it had on it words
of power.

"For a time, I practiced the strange syllables. Many times did I speak
them aloud, then I pressed the bosses on the table, as shown by one of
the books. There was a light. Then, the great ball glowed with color, to
show me the first demon.

"He spoke. And I conquered my fear, to repeat the syllables I had
labored to learn. Once again, he spoke, and I could not understand him.
I could think of nothing but to say again those words which I hoped
would bring the rain we so badly needed. I took my hands from the bosses
and stood, wondering what would happen. The ball became dark.

"I stood, waiting. And nothing happened. Finally, thinking nothing was
to occur, I turned and started to leave the room. Then, a great voice
spoke. Again, the wall was alight. Within it was a fearsome demon who
glared at me ferociously and demanded something in that tongue of power.
I could not think. I stood, trembling fearfully. And he spoke again.
Then did I repeat again the words I had learned, and ran from the room.

"It became dark. The lightnings flashed, and the rain fell, and my
master came, but not as I had ever seen him before. He did not walk from
the forest as was his wont, but appeared before me from the air. I
started back in fright, for now I was certain beyond doubt that he was a
man of great wizardry. I thought he would beat me, or possibly cast me
under a spell.

"Never has he beaten me, always saying that it was wrong to beat an
apprentice, and that those who so did were lacking in their senses. And
this is but another proof of his sorcery, for who, other than a
sorcerer, could handle his servants without beating them?

"I dared do nothing other than to tell him of my misdoing, and he
rushed to the room, taking me with him. He pressed the bosses, turning
one that I had not known of, and the demon appeared again and talked
with him. Then, my master made strange passes about the instruments and
the village was shown in the ball.

"At last the rain stopped. A wind blew--hot and dry, as from the
pit--and the people came and did try by violence to enter. But they
could not. At last, the great machine came, and though we could not at
first see it, we entered and were carried away through the sky.

"The people watched the house burn, then entered, to scatter the ashes.

"And I am here, and afraid."