e stretched upon the floor, with his head to the north and his arms
extended, he encountered a new difficulty: his mind refused to dwell
upon the heavenly kingdom. Anxiety as to the treatment he was about to
be subjected to alternated with satisfaction at the savory odors that
floated in from the kitchen. If the ordeal was uncertain, the reward at
least was sure.

After what seemed to him an endless vigil, Amanda appeared in the
doorway. With measured steps and great solemnity of mien, she
approached, holding in her right hand a piece of white chalk.

"De hour has come," she chanted. "With this chalk, an' around this man,
I make the mark of his image." Stooping, she began to trace his outline
on the dull rag-carpet, speaking monotonously as she worked: "Gordon Lee
Surrender Jones, I command all the aches an' the pains, all the miseries
an' fool notions, includin' the cricket in yer leg, to pass outen yer
real body into this heah image on the floor. Keep yer head still,
nigger! I pass 'em through you into yer symbol, an' from thence I draws
'em out to satisfy yer mind now and forever more, amen. Now roll over to
the right an' watch what's about to happen."

The patient by this time was so interested that he followed instructions
mechanically. He saw Amanda dart into the kitchen and emerge with an
object totally unfamiliar to him. It was a heavy, box-shaped object,
attached to a long handle. This she placed on the chalked outline of his
right leg. Then she stood with her eyes fixed on the floor and solemnly
chanted:

"Draw, draw, 'cordin' to the law,
Lif' the hoodoo, now I beg,
An' draw the cricket
F'om this heah leg!"

And Gordon Lee, raised on his elbow, watching with protruding eyes,
_heard_ it draw! He heard the heavy, panting breathing as Amanda ran the
vacuum cleaner over every inch of the chalked outline, and when she
stopped and, kneeling beside the box, removed a small bag of dust and
lint, he was not in the least surprised to see a cricket jump from the
debris.

"Praise be!" he cried in sudden ecstasy. "De pain's done lef me, do
spell's done lifted!"

"An' the cricket's done removed," urged Amanda, skilfully getting the
machine out of sight. "You seen it removed with yer own eyes."

"Wid my own eyes," echoed Gordon Lee, still in a state of self-hypnosis.

"An' now," she said, "I'm goin' to git that supper ready jes as quick ez
I kin."

"Ain't you gwine help me back in bed fust?" he aske