the Empire. Ultimately, however,
it was admitted that they were now on the high seas, which information
given, the bony oracle could no longer contain its rage, but pursued an
English Mason of the 33rd degree from end to end of the assembly, and
succeeded in inflicting some furious bites and blows. The second act
commenced by uncovering a species of exaggerated baptismal font, filled
to the brim with water, and representing the great ocean over which the
missionaries were passing. The assembly crowded round it, and by means
of magic rods and other devices, succeeded in evoking a minute figure of
a steam-ship containing the adventurers. Their magic also raised up a
perfect tempest of wind in the closed apartment, but by no device could
they effect the slightest disturbance upon the placid bosom of the
water. The ceremony had, in fact, to be abandoned as a failure in its
desired intention. Too well did the Spirit Yesu protect His
missionaries. The assembly accordingly repaired into a second apartment.
There the officiating dignitaries assumed the vestments of Catholic
priests. They produced a wax figure, designed to represent a missionary,
amused themselves with a mock trial, inflicted imaginary tortures, and
returned the dummy to a cupboard, after which they proceeded to the
crucifixion of a living pig. The third act was an agonising experience
for the doctor, being nothing less than the sacrifice of one of the
brethren, the selection being determined by lot. The doctor, in his
quality of visitor, was, it is true, spared the chance of being himself
the victim, but he nearly became executioner. One of the Chinese adepts
having been chosen, to his intense satisfaction, and approved by some
mechanical movements on the part of the dragon-headed Baphomet,
permitted his limbs to be removed, and then earnestly invoked the
assistance of the "Charleston brother" for the purpose of severing his
head. It was an honour invariably accorded to the visitor of the highest
grade. The doctor, who could not bring himself to the point, was saved
at the last moment by the miraculous levitation of Phileas Walder from
an immense distance, this occult personage having become transcendently
cognisant of what was going forward in China, and being anxious to
interrogate the severed head as to the possible recovery of his
daughter, who was then seriously ill. In virtue of his superior dignity,
he claimed the privilege of the execution, and the doctor