第5章

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Butheleftadisciplewhosefaithhadnotbeenshakenbythegeneraldefection。Awell-to-doElberfeldmanufacturer，HerrKrall，hadtakenagreatinterestinVonOsten’slaboursand，duringthelatteryearsoftheoldman’slife，hadeagerlyfollowedandevenonoccasiondirectedtheeducationofthewonderfulstallion。VonOstenleftKlugeHanstohimbywill；onhisownside，KrallhadboughttwoArabstallions，MohammedandZarifwhoseprowesssoonsurpassedthatofthepioneer。Thewholequestionwasreopened，eventstookavigorousanddecisiveturnand，insteadofaweary，eccentricoldman，discouragedalmosttosullennessandwithnoweaponsforthestruggle，thecriticsofthemiraclefoundthemselvesfacedbyanewadversary，youngandhigh-spirited，endowedwithremarkablescientificinstinct，quick-witted，scholarlyandwellabletodefendhimself。

HiseducationalmethodsalsodiffermateriallyfromVonOsten’s。

Itwasastrangething，butdeepdownintheratherqueer，cross-grainedsouloftheoldenthusiasttherehadgrownupgraduallyasortofhatredforhisfour-leggedpupil。Hefeltthestallion’sproudandnervouswillresistinghiswithanobstinacywhichhequalifiedasdiabolical。Theystooduptoeachotherliketwoenemies：andthelessonsalmostassumedtheformofatragicandsecretstruggleinwhichtheanimal’ssoulrebelledagainstman’sdomination。

Krall，ontheotherhand，adoreshispupils；andthisatmosphereofaffectionhasinamannerofspeakinghumanizedthem。Therearenolongerthosesuddenmovementsofwildpanicwhichrevealtheancestraldreadofmaninthequietestandbest-trainedhorse。Hetalkstothemlongandtenderly，asafathermighttalktohischildren；andwehavethestrangefeelingthattheylistentoallthathesaysandunderstandit。Iftheyappearnottograspanexplanationorademonstration，hewillbeginitalloveragain，analyzeit，paraphraseittentimesinsuccession，withthepatienceofamother。AndsotheirprogresshasbeenincomparablyswifterandmoreastoundingthanthatofoldHans。

WithinafortnightofthefirstlessonMohammeddidsimplelittleadditionandsubtractionsumsquitecorrectly。Hehadlearnttodistinguishthetensfromtheunits，strikingthelatterwithhisrightfootandtheformerwithhisleft。Heknewthemeaningofthesymbolsplusandminus。Fourdayslater，hewasbeginningmultiplicationanddivision。Infourmonths’time，heknewhowtoextractsquareandcubicroots；and，soonafter，helearnttospellandreadbymeansoftheconventionalalphabetdevisedbyKrall。

Thisalphabet，atthefirstglance，seemsrathercomplicated。Forthatmatter，itisonlyamakeshift；buthowcouldonefindanythingbetter？Theunfortunatehorse，whoisalmostvoiceless，hasonlyonewayinwhichtoexpresshimself：aclumsyhoof，whichwasnotcreatedtoputthoughtintowords。Itbecamenecessary，therefore，tocontrive，asintable-turning，aspecialalphabet，inwhicheachletterisdesignatedbyacertainnumberofblowsstruckbytherightfootandtheleft。HereisthecopyhandedtovisitorsatElberfeldtoenablethemtofollowthehorse’soperations：

——123456

10ENRSMC

20AHLTA：CH

30IDGWJSCH

40OBFKO：——

50UVZPU：——

60EIAUEUXQ——

TomarktheletterE，forinstance，thestallionwillstrikeoneblowwithhisleftfootandonewithhisright；fortheletterL，twoblowswithhisleftfootandthreewithhisright；andsoon。

Thehorseshavethisalphabetsodeeplyimprintedintheirmemorythat，practicallyspeaking，theynevermakeamistake；andtheystriketheirhoofssoquickly，oneaftertheother，thatatfirstonehassomedifficultyinfollowingthem。

MohammedandZarif——forZarif’sprogresswasalmostequaltothatofhisfellow-pupil，thoughheseemsalittlelessgiftedfromthestandpointofhighermathematics-MohammedandZarifinthiswayreproducethewordsspokenintheirpresence，spellthenamesoftheirvisitors，replytoquestionsputtothemandsometimesmakelittleobservations，littlepersonalandspontaneousreflectionstowhichweshallreturnpresently。Theyhavecreatedfortheirownuseaninconceivablyfantasticandphoneticsystemofspellingwhichtheystubbornlyrefusetorelinquishandwhichoftenmakestheirwritingratherdifficulttoread。Deemingmostofthevowelsuseless，theykeepalmostexclusivelytotheconsonants；thusZucker，forinstance，becomesZKR；Pferd，PF

RT，orFRT，andsoon。

Iwillnotsetforthindetailthemanydifferentproofsofintelligencelavishedbythesingularinhabitantsofthisstrangestable。Theyarenotonlyfirst-classcalculators，forwhomthemostrepellentfractionsandrootspossesshardlyanysecrets：

theydistinguishsounds，colours，andscents，readthetimeonthefaceofawatch，recognizecertaingeometricalfigures，likenessesandphotographs。

FollowingonthesemoreandmoreconclusiveexperimentsandespeciallyafterthepublicationofKrall’sgreatwork，DenkendeTiere，amodelofprecisionandarrangement，men’smindswerefacedwithclearanddefiniteproblemwhich，thistime，couldnotbechallenged。ScientificcommitteesfollowedoneanotheratElberfeld；andtheirreportsbecamelegion。Learnedmenofeverycountry——includingDr。Edinger，theeminentFrankfortneurologist；ProfessorsDr。H。KraemerandH。E。Ziegler，ofStuttgart；Dr。PaulSaresin，ofBale；ProfessorOstwald，ofBerlin；ProfessorA。Beredka，ofthePasteurInstitute；Dr。E。

Clarapede，oftheuniversityofGeneva；ProfessorSchoellerandProfessorGehrke，thenaturalphilosopher，ofBerlin；ProfessorGoldstein，ofDarmstadt；ProfessorvonButtel-Reepen，ofOldenburg；ProfessorWilliamMackenzie，ofGenoa；ProfessorR。

Assagioli，ofFlorence；Dr。Hartkopf，ofCologne；Dr。

Freudenberg，ofBrussels；Dr。Ferrari，ofBologna，etc。，etc。，forthelistislengtheningdaily——cametostudyonthespottheinexplicablephenomenonwhichDr。Clarapedeproclaimstobe"themostsensationaleventthathaseverhappenedinthepsychologicalworld。"

WiththeexceptionoftwoorthreescepticsorconvincedmisoneistsandofthosewhomadetooshortastayatElberfeld，allwereunanimousinrecognizingthatthefactswereasstatedandthattheexperimentswereconductedwithabsolutefairness。

Disagreementbeginsonlywhenitbecomesamatterofcommentingonthem，interpretingthemandexplainingthem。

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Tocompletethisshortpreamble，itisrighttoaddthat，forsometimepast，thecaseoftheElberfeldhorsesnolongerstandsquitealone。ThereexistsatMannheimadogofaratherdoubtfulbreedwhoperformsalmostthesamefeatsashisequinerivals。Heislessadvancedthantheyinarithmetic，butdoeslittleadditions，subtractionsandmultiplicationsofoneortwofigurescorrectly。Hereadsandwritesbytappingwithhispaw，inaccordancewithanalphabetwhich，itappears，hehasthoughtoutforhimself；andhisspellingalsoissimplifiedandphoneticizedtotheutmost。Hedistinguishesthecolourinabunchofflowers，countsthemoneyinapurseandseparatesthemarksfromthepfennigs。Heknowshowtoseekandfindwordstodefinetheobjectorthepictureplacedbeforehim。Youshowhim，forinstance，abouquetinavaseandaskhimwhatitis。

"Aglasswithlittleflowers，"hereplies。

Andhisanswersareoftencuriouslyspontaneousandoriginal。Inthecourseofareading-exerciseinwhichthewordHerbst，autumn，chancedtoattractattention，ProfessorWilliamMackenzieaskedhimifhecouldexplainwhatautumnwas。

"Itisthetimewhenthereareapples，"Rolfreplied。

Onthesameoccasion，thesameprofessor，withoutknowingwhatitrepresented，heldouttohimacardmarkedwithredandbluesquares：

"What’sthis？"

"Blue，red，lotsofcubes，"repliedthedog。

Sometimeshisreparteesarenotlackinginhumour。

"Isthereanythingyouwouldlikemetodoforyou？"aladyofhisacquaintanceasked，oneday。

AndMasterRolfgravelyanswered：

"Wedelen，"whichmeans，"Wagyourtail！"

Rolf，whosefameiscomparativelyyoung，hasnotyet，likehisillustriousrivalsoftheRhineProvince，beentheobjectofminuteenquiriesandcopiousandinnumerablereports。ButtheincidentswhichIhavejustmentionedandwhicharevouchedforbysuchmenasProfessorMackenzieandM。Duchatel，thelearnedandclear-sightedvice-presidentoftheSocieteUniverselled’EtudesPsychiques，[1]whowenttoMannheimfortheexpresspurposeofstudyingthem，appeartobenomorecontrovertiblethantheElbenfeldoccurrences，ofwhichtheyareasortofreplicaorecho。Itisnotunusualtofindthesecoincidencesamongstabnormalphenomena。Theyspringupsimultaneouslyindifferentquartersoftheglobe，correspondwithoneanotherandmultiplyasthoughinobediencetoawordofcommand。Itisprobablethereforethatweshallseestillmoremanifestationsofthesameclass。Onemightalmostsaythatanewspiritispassingovertheworldand，afterawakeninginmanforceswhereofhewasnotaware，isnowreachingothercreatureswhowithusinhabitthismysteriousearth，onwhichtheylive，sufferanddie，aswedo，withoutknowingwhy。

[1]SeetheinterestinglecturebyM。EdmondDuchatel，publishedintheAnnalesdesSciencesPsychiques，October1913。

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IhavenotbeentoMannheim，butImademypilgrimagetoElberfeldandstayedlongenoughinthetowntocarryawaywithmetheconvictionsharedbyallthosewhohaveundertakenthejourney。

Afewmonthsago，HerrKrall，whomIhadpromisedtheyearbeforethatIwouldcomeandseehiswonderfulhorses，waskindenoughtorepeathisinvitationinamorepressingfashion，addingthathisstablewouldperhapsbebrokenupafterthe15thofSeptemberandthat，inanycase，bewouldbeobliged，byhisdoctor’sorders，tointerruptforanindefiniteperiodacourseoftrainingwhichhefoundexceedinglyfatiguing。

IatonceleftforElberfeld，which，aseverybodyknows，isanimportantmanufacturing-towninRhenishPrussiaandis，infact，morequaint，pleasingandpicturesquethanonemightexpect。I

hadlongsincereadeverythingthathadbeenpublishedonthequestion；andIwaswhollypersuadedofthegenuinenessoftheincidents。Indeeditwouldbedifficulttohaveanydoubtsaftertherepeatedandunremittingsupervisionandverificationtowhichtheexperimentsaresubjected，asupervisionwhichisofthemostrigoroustype，oftenhostileandalmostill-mannered。Asfortheirinterpretation，Iwasconvincedthattelepathy，thatistosay，thetransmissionofthoughtfromonesubconsciousnesstoanother，remained，howeverstrangeitmightbeinthisnewregion，theonlyacceptabletheory；andthisinspiteofcertaincircumstancesthatseemedplainlytoexcludeit。Indefaultoftelepathyproper，Iinclinedtowardthemediumisticorsubliminaltheory，whichwasveryablyoutlinedbyM。deVesmesinaremarkablelecturedelivered，onthe22ndofDecember，1912，beforetheSocieteUniverselled’EtudesPsychiques。Itistruethattelepathy，especiallywhencarriedtoitsextremelimits，appealsabovealltothesubliminalforces，sothatthetwotheoriesoverlapatmorethanonepointanditisoftendifficulttomakeoutwherethefirstendsandthesecondbegins。Butthisdiscussionwillbemoreappropriatealittlelater。

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IfoundHerrKrallinhisgoldsmith’sshop，asortofpalaceofGolconda，streamingandglitteringwiththemostpreciouspearlsandstonesonearth。HerrKrall，itiswelltoremember，inordertodispelanysuspicionofpecuniaryinterest，isarichmanufacturerwhosefamilyforthreegenerations，fromfathertoson，haveconductedoneofthemostimportantjewelrybusinessesinGermany。Hisresearches，sofarfrombringinghimtheleastprofit，costhimagreatdealofmoney，takeupallhisleisureandsomepartofthetimewhichhewouldotherwisedevotetohisbusinessand，asusuallyhappens，procurehimfromhisfellowcitizensandfromnotafewscientificmenmoreannoyance，unfaircriticismandsarcasmthanconsiderationorgratitude。Hisworkispreeminentlythedisinterestedandthanklesstaskoftheapostleandpioneer。

Fortherest，HerrKraft，thoughhisfaithisactive，zealousandinfectious，hasnothingincommonwiththevisionariesorilluminati。Heisamanofaboutfifty，vigorous，alertandenthusiastic，butatthesametimewell-balanced；accesibletoeveryideaandeventoeverydream，yetpracticalandmethodical，withaballastofthemostinvinciblecommon-sense。Heinspiresfromtheoutsetthatfineconfidence，frankandunrestrained，whichinstantlydispersestheinstinctivedoubt，thestrangeuneasinessandtheveiledsuspicionthatgenerallyseparatetwopeoplewhomeetforthefirsttime；andonewelcomesinhim，fromtheverydepthsofone’sbeing，thehonestman，thestaunchfriendwhomonecantrustandwhomoneissorrynottohaveknownearlierinlife。

WegotogetherthroughthestreetsandalongthebustlingquaysofElberfeldtothestable，situatedatafewhundredstepsfromtheshop。Thehorsesaretakingtheairoutsidethedoorsoftheirboxes，intheyardshadedbyalime-tree。Therearefourofthem：Mohammed，themostintelligent，themostgiftedofthemall，thegreatmathematicianoftheparty；hisdouble，Zarif，alittlelessadvanced，lesstractable，craftier，butatthesametimemorefanciful，morespontaneousandcapableofoccasionaldisconcertingsallies；next，Hanschen，alittleShetlandpony，hardlybiggerthanaNewfoundlanddog，thestreet-urchinoftheband，alwaysquiveringwithexcitement，roguish，flighty，uncertainandpassionate，butreadyinamomenttoworkyououtthemostdifficultadditionandmultiplicationsumswithafuriousscrapeofthehoof；andlastlythelatestarrival，theplumpandplacidBerto，animposingblackstallion，quiteblindandlackingthesenseofsmell。Hehasbeenonlyafewmonthsatschoolandisstill，sotospeak，inthepreparatoryclass，butalreadydoes——alittlemoreclumsily，butmoregoodhumouredlyandconscientiously——smalladditionandsubtractionsumsquiteaswellasmanyachildofthesameage。

Inacorner，Kama，ayoungelephanttwoorthreeyearsold，aboutthesizeofanoutrageously"blown"donkey，rollshismischievousandalmostknavisheye，undertheshelterofhiswideears，eachresemblingagreatrhubarb-leaf，andwithhisstealthy，insinuatingtrunkcarefullypicksupwhateverheconsidersfittoeat，thatistosay，prettywelleverythingthatliesaboutonthestones。Greatthingswerehopedofhim，buthithertohehasdisappointedallexpectations：heisthedunceoftheestablishment。Perhapsheistooyoungstill：hislittleelephant-soulnodoubtresemblesthatofasucking-babewhich，intheplaceofitsfeetandhands，playswiththestupendousnosethatmustfirstexploreandquestiontheuniverse。Itisimpossibletogriphisattention；and，whentheysetoutbeforehimhisalphabetofmovableletters，insteadofnamingthosewhicharepointedouttohimheapplieshimselftopullingthemofftheirstems，inordertoswallowthemsurreptitiously。Hehasdisheartenedhiskindmaster，who，pendingthecomingofthereasonandwisdompromisedbytheproboscidianlegends，leaveshiminacontentedstateofignorancemademoreblissfulbyanalmostinsatiableappetite。

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ButIasktoseethegreatpioneer，KlugeHans，CleverHans。Heisstillalive。Heisold：hemustbesixteenorseventeen；buthisoldage，alas，isnotexemptfromthebanefultroublesfromwhichmenthemselvessufferintheirdecline！Hanshasturnedoutbadly，itappears，andisnevermentionedsaveinambiguousterms。Animprudentorvindictivegroom，Iforgetwhich，havingintroducedamareintotheyard，HansthePure，whotillthenhadledanaustereandmonkishexistence，vowedtocelibacy，scienceandthechastedelightsoffigures，HanstheIrreproachableincontinentlylosthisheadandcuthimselfopenonthehanging-railofhisstall。Theyhadtoforcebackhisintestinesandsewuphisbelly。Heisnowrusticatingmiserablyinameadowoutsidethetown。Sotrueitisthatalifecannotbejudgedexceptatitscloseandthatwearesureofnothinguntilwearedead。

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Beforethesittingbegins，whilethemasterismakinghismorninginspection，IgouptoMuhamed，speaktohimandpathim，lookingstraightintohiseyesmeanwhileinordertocatchasignofhisgenius。Thehandsomecreature，well-bredandinhardcondition，isascalmandtrustingasadog；heshowshimselfexcessivelygraciousandfriendlyandtriestogivemesomehugelicksandmightykisseswhichIdomybesttoavoidbecausetheyarealittleunexpectedandoverdemonstrative。Theexpressionofhislimpidantelope-eyesisdeep，seriousandremote，butitdiffersinnowisefromthatofhisbrotherswho，forthousandsofyears，haveseennothingbutbrutalityandingratitudeinman。Ifwewereabletoreadanythingthere，itwouldnotbethatinsufficientandvainlittleeffortwhichwecallthought，butratheranindefinable，vastanxiety，atear-dimmedregretfortheboundless，stream-crossedplainswherehissiressportedatwillbeforetheyknewman’syoke。Inanycase，toseehimthusfastenedbyahaltertothestable-door，beatingoffthefliesandabsentlypawingthecobbles，Muhamedisnothingmorethanawell-trainedhorsewhoseemstobewaitingforhissaddleorharnessandwhohide，hisnewsecretasprofoundlyasalltheotherswhichnaturehasburiedinhim。

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Buttheyaresummoningmetotakemyplaceinthestablewherethelessonsaregiven。Itisasmallroom，emptyandbare，withpeat-mosslitterbeddingandwhite-washedwalls。Thehorseisseparatedfromthepeoplepresentbybreast-highwoodenpartitions。Oppositethefour-leggedscholarisablack-board，nailedtothewall；andononesideacorn-binwhichformsaseatforthespectators。Muhamedisledin。Krall，whoisalittlenervous，makesnosecretofhisuneasiness。Hishorsesarefickleanimals，uncertain，capriciousandextremelysensitive。Atrifledisturbsthem，confusesthem，putsthemoff。Atsuchtimes，threats，prayersandeventheirresistiblecharmofcarrotsandgoodrye-breadareuseless。Theyobstinatelyrefusetodoanyworkandtheyansweratrandom。Everythingdependsonawhim，thestateoftheweather，themorningmealortheimpressionwhichthevisitormakesuponthem。Still，Krallseemstoknow，bycertainimperceptiblesigns，thatthisisnotgoingtobeabadday。Muhamedquiveredwithexcitement，snortsloudlythroughhisnostrils，uttersaseriesofindistinctlittlewhinnyings：

excellentsymptoms，itappears。Itakemyseatonthecorn-bin。

Themaster，standingbesidetheblack-board，chalkinhand，introducesmetoMuhamedindueform，astoahumanbeing：

"Muhamed，attention！Thisisyouruncle"——pointingtome——"whohascomeallthewaytohonouryouwithavisit。Mindyoudon’tdisappointhim。HisnameisMaeterlinck。"KrallpronouncedthefirstsyllableGerman-fashion：Mah。"Youunderstand：Maeterlinck。

Nowshowhimthatyouknowyourlettersandthatyoucanspellanamecorrectly，likeacleverboy。Goahead，we’relistening。"

Muhamedgivesashortneighand，onthesmall，movableboardathisfeet，strikesfirstwithhisrighthoofandthenwithhisleftthenumberofblowswhichcorrespondwiththeletterMintheconventionalalphabetusedbythehorses。Then，oneaftertheother，withoutstoppingorhesitating，hemarksthelettersADR

LINSH，representingtheunexpectedaspectwhichmyhumblenameassumesintheequinemindandphonetics。Hisattentioniscalledtothefactthatthereisamistake。HereadilyagreesandreplacestheSHbyaGandthentheGbyaK。TheyinsistthathemustputaTinsteadoftheD；butMuhamed，contentwithhiswork，shakeshisheadtosaynoandrefusestomakeanyfurthercorrections。

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Iassureyouthatthefirstshockisratherdisturbing，howevermuchoneexpectedit。Iamquiteawarethat，whenonedescribesthesethings，oneistakenforadupetooreadilydazzledbythedoubtlesschildishillusionofaningeniouslycontrivedscene。

Butwhatcontrivances，whatillusionshavewehere？Dotheylieinthespokenword？Why，toadmitthatthehorseunderstandsandtranslateshismaster’swordsisjusttoacceptthemostextraordinarypartofthephenomenon！Isitacaseofsurreptitioustouchesorconventionalsigns？Howeversimple-mindedonemaybe，onewouldneverthelessnoticethemmoreeasilythanahorse，evenahorseofgenius。Krallneverlaysahandontheanimal；hemovesallroundthelittletable，whichcontainsnoappliancesofanysort；forthemostpart，hestandsbehindthehorsewhichisunabletoseehim，orcomesandsitsbesidehisguestontheinnocuouscorn-bin，busyinghimself，whilelecturinghispupil，inwritinguptheminutesofthelesson。Healsowelcomeswiththemostserenereadinessanyrestrictionsortestswhichyoupropose。Iassureyouthatthethingitselfismuchsimple，andclearerthanthesuspicionsofthearm-chaircriticsandthatthemostdistrustfulmindworldnotentertainthefaintestideaoffraudinthefrank，wholesomeatmosphereoftheoldstable。

"But，"someonemighthavesaid，"Krall，whoknewthatyouwerecomingtoElberfeld，hadofcoursethoroughlyrehearsedhislittleexerciseinspelling，whichapparentlyisonlyanexerciseinmemory。"

Forconscience’sake，thoughIdidnotlookupontheobjectionasserious，IsubmittedittoKrall，whoatoncesaid："Tryitforyourself。DictatetothehorseanyGermanwordoftwoorthreesyllables，emphasizingitstrongly。I’llgooutofthestableandleaveyoualonewithhim。"

BeholdMuhamedandmebyourselves。IconfessthatIamalittlefrightened。Ihavemanyatimefeltlessuncomfortableinthepresenceofthegreatonesorthekingsoftheearth。WhomamI

dealingwithexactly？However，Isummonmycourageandspeakaloudthefirstwordthatoccurstome，thenameofthehotelatwhichIamstaying：Weidenhof。Atfirst，Muhamed，whoseemsalittlepuzzledbyhismaster’sabsence，appearsnottohearmeanddoesnotevendeigntonoticethatIamthere。ButIrepeateagerly，invaryingtonesofvoice，byturnsinsinuating，threatening，beseechingandcommanding：

"Weidenhof！Weidenhof！Weidenhof！"

Atlast，mymysteriouscompanionsuddenlymakesuphismindtolendmehisearsandstraightwayblithelyrapsoutthefollowingletters，whichIwritedownontheblack-boardastheycome：

WEIDNHOZ。

Itisamagnificentspecimenofequinespelling！Triumphantandbewildered，IcallinfriendKrall，who，accustomedasheistotheprodigy，thinksitquitenatural，butknitshisbrows：

"What’sthis，Muhamed？You’vemadeamistakeagain。It’sanFyouwantattheendoftheword，notaZ。Justcorrectitatonce，please。"

AndthedocileMuhamed，recognizinghisblunder，givesthethreeblowswithhisrighthoof，followedbythefourblowswithhisleft，whichrepresentthemostunexceptionableFthatonecouldaskfor。

Observe，bytheway，thelogicofhisphoneticwriting：contrarytohishabit，hestrikesthemuteEaftertheW，becauseitisindispensable；but，findingitincludedintheD，heconsidersitsuperfluousandsuppressesitwithahighhand。

Yourubyoureyes，questionyourself，askyourselfinthepresenceofwhathumanizedphenomenon，ofwhatunknownforce，ofwhatnewcreatureyoustand。Wasallthiswhattheyhidintheireyes，thosesilentbrothersofours？Youblushatarm’slonginjustice。Youlookaroundyouforsomesortoftrace，obviousorsubtle，ofthemystery。Youfeelyourselfattackedinyourinnermostcitadel，whereyouheldyourselfmostcertainandmostimpregnable。Youhavefeltabreathfromtheabyssuponyourface。Youwouldnotbemoreastonishedifyousuddenlyheardthevoiceofthedead。Butthemostastonishingthingisthatyouarenotastonishedforlong。Weall，unknowntoourselves，liveintheexpectationoftheextraordinary；and，whenitcomes，itmovesusmuchlessthandidtheexpectation。Itisasthoughasortofhigherinstinct，whichknowseverythingandisnotignorantofthemiraclesthathangoverourheads，werereassuringusinadvanceandhelpingustomakeaneasyentranceintotheregionsofthesupernatural。Thereisnothingtowhichwegrowaccustomedmorereadilythantothemarvellous；anditisonlyafterwards，uponreflection，thatourintelligence，whichknowshardlyanything，appreciatesthemagnitudeofcertainphenomena。

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ButMuhamedgivesunmistakablesignsofimpatiencetoshowthathehashadenoughofspelling。Thereupon，asadiversionandareward，hiskindmastersuggeststheextractionofafewsquareandcubicroots。Muhamedappearsdelighted：thesearehisfavouriteproblems：forhetakeslessinterestthanformerlyinthemostdifficultmultiplicationsanddivisions。Hedoubtlessthinksthembeneathhim。

KrallthereforewritesontheblackboardvariousnumbersofwhichIdidnottakenote。Moreover，asnobodynowconteststhefactthatthehorseworksthemwithease，itwouldhardlybeinterestingtoreproducehereseveralrathergrimproblemsofwhichnumerousvariantswillbefoundintheaccountsandreportsofexperimentssignedbyDrs。MackenzieandHartkopff，byOverbeck，Clarapedeandmanyothers。Whatstrikesoneparticularlyisthefacility，thequickness，Iwasalmostsayingthejoyouscarelessnesswithwhichthestrangemathematiciangivestheanswers。Thelastfigureishardlychalkedupontheboardbeforetherighthoofisstrikingofftheunits，followedimmediatelybythelefthoofmarkingthetens。Thereisnotasignofattentionorreflection；oneisnotevenawareoftheexactmomentatwhichthehorselooksattheproblem：andtheanswerseemstospringautomaticallyfromaninvisibleintelligence。Mistakesarerareorfrequentaccordingasithappenstobeagoodorbaddaywiththehorse；but，whenheistoldofthem，henearlyalwayscorrectsthem。Notunseldom，thenumberisreversed：47，forinstance，becomes74；butheputsitrightwithoutdemurwhenasked。

Iammanifestlydumbfounded；butperhapstheseproblemsarepreparedbeforehand？Iftheywere，itwouldbeveryextraordinary，butyetlesssurprisingthantheiractualsolution。Kralldoesnotreadthissuspicioninmyeyes，becausetheydonotshowit；nevertheless，toremovetheleastshadeofit，heasksmetowriteanumberofmyownontheblack-boardforthehorsetofindtheroot。

Imusthereconfessthehumiliatingignorancethatisthedisgraceofmylife。Ihavenotthefaintestideaofthemysteriesconcealedwithinthesereconditeandcomplicatedoperations。Ididmyhumanitieslikeeverybodyelse；but，aftercrossingtheusefulandfamiliarfrontiersofmultiplicationanddivisionIfounditimpossibletoadvanceanyfartherintothedesolateregions，bristlingwithfigures，wherethesquareandcubicrootsholdsway，togetherwithallsortsofothermonstrouspowers，withoutshapesorfaces，whichinspiredmewithinvincibleterror。Allthepersecutionsofmyexcellentinstructorsworethemselvesoutagainstadeadwallofstolidity。

Successivelydisheartened，theyleftmetomydismalignorance，prophesyingamostdrearyfutureforme，hauntedwithbitterregrets。Imustsaythat，untilnow，Ihadscarcelyexperiencedtheeffectsofthesegloomypredictions；butthehourhascomeformetoexpiatethesinsofmyyouth。Nevertheless，Iputagoodfaceuponit：and，takingatrandomthefirstfiguresthatsuggestthemselvestomymind，Iboldlywriteontheblack-boardanenormousandmostdaringnumber。Muhamedremainsmotionless。

Krallspeakstohimsharply，tellinghimtohurryup。Muhamedliftshisrighthoof，butdoesnotletitfall。Kralllosespatience，lavishesprayers，promisesandthreats；thehoofremainspoised，asthoughtobearwitnesstogoodintentionsthatcannotbecarriedout。Thenmyhostturnsround，looksattheproblemandasksme：

"Doesitgiveanexactroot？"

Exact？Whatdoeshemean？Arethererootswhich……？ButIdarenotgoon：myshamefulignorancesuddenlyflashesbeforemyeyes。

Krallsmilesindulgentlyand，withoutmakinganyattempttosupplementaneducationwhichistoomuchinarrearstoallowoftheslightesthope，laboriouslyworksouttheproblemanddeclaresthatthehorsewasrightinrefusingtogiveanimpossiblesolution。

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Muhamedreceivesourthanksintheformofalordlyportionofcarrots；andapupilisintroducedwhoseattainmentsdonottowersohighabovemine：Hanschen，thelittlepony，quickandlivelyasabigrat。Likeme，hehasnevergonebeyondelementaryarithmetic：andsoweshallunderstandeachotherbetterandmeetonequalterms。

Krallasksmefortwonumberstomultiply。Igivehim63X7。Hedoesthesumandwritestheproductontheboard，followedbythesignofdivision：441/7。InstantlyHanschen，withaceleritydifficulttofollow，givesthreeblows，orratherthreeviolentscrapeswithhisrighthoofandsixwithhisleft，whichmakes63，forwemustnotforgetthatinGermantheysaynotsixty-three，butthree-and-sixty。Wecongratulatehim；and，toevincehissatisfaction，henimblyreversesthenumberbymarking36andthenputsitrightagainbyscraping63。Heisevidentlyenjoyinghimselfandjugglingwiththefigures。Andadditions，subtractions，multiplicationsanddivisionsfollowoneaftertheother，withfiguressuppliedbymyself，soastoremoveanyideaofcollusion。Hanschenseldomblunders；and，whenhedoes，wereceiveaveryclearimpressionthathismistakeisvoluntary：heislikeamischievousschoolboyplayingapracticaljokeuponhismaster。Thesolutionsfallthickashailuponthelittlespring-board；thecorrectanswerisreleasedbythequestionasthoughyouwerepressingthebuttonofanelectricpush。Thepony’sflippancyisassurprisingashisskill。Butinthisunrulyflippancy，inthishastinesswhichseemsinattentivethereisneverthelessafixedandpermanentidea。Hanschenpawstheground，kicks，prances，tosseshishead，looksasifhecannotkeepstill，butneverleaveshisspring-board。Isheinterestedintheproblems，doesheenjoythem？Itisimpossibletosay；buthecertainlyhastheappearanceofoneaccomplishingadutyorapieceofworkwhichwedonotdiscuss，whichisimportant，necessaryandinevitable。

Butthelessonsuddenlyendswithajokecarriedrathertoofarbythepupil，whocatcheshisgoodmasterbytheseatofhistrousers，intowhichheplantsdisrespectfulteeth。Heisseverelyreprimanded，deprivedofhiscarrotsandsentbackindisgracetohisprivateapartments。

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NextcomesBette，whoislikeabig，sleekNormanhorse。Hemakesthecalm，dignified，peacefulentranceofablindgiant。Hislarge，dark，brillianteyesarequitedead，deprivedofanyreflexpower。Hefeelsaboutwithhishooffortheboardonwhichheistoraphisanswers。Hehasnotyetgonebeyondtherudimentsofmathematics；andtheearlypartofhiseducationwasparticularlydifficult。Theymanagedtomakehimunderstandthevalueandmeaningofthenumbersandoftheaddition-andmultiplication-signsbymeansoflittletapsonhissides。Krallspeakstohimasafathermightspeaktotheyoungestofhissons。HeexplainstohimfondlytheeasysumswhichIsuggesthisdoing：twoplusthree，eightminusfour，fourtimesthree；hesays：

"Mind！It’snotplusthreeorminusthreethistime，butfourmultipliedbythree！"

Bertohardlyevermakesamistake。Whenhedoesnotunderstandthequestion，hewaitsforittobewrittenwiththefingeronhisside；andthecarefulwayinwhichheworksitoutlikesomebackwardandafflictedchildisaninfinitelypatheticsight。Heismuchmorezealousandconscientiousthanhisfellow-pupils；

andwefeelthat，inthedarknesswhereinhedwells，thisworkis，nexttohismeals，theonlysparkoflightandinterestinhisexistence。HewillcertainlyneverrivalMuhamed，forinstance，whoisthearithmeticalprodigy，theInaudi，ofhorses；

butheisavaluableandlivingproofthatthetheoryofunconsciousandimperceptiblesigns，theonlyonewhichtheGermantheoristshavehithertoseriouslyconsidered，isnowclearlyuntenable。

IhavenotyetspokenofZarif。Heisnotinthebestoftempers；

andbesides，inarithmetic，heisonlyalesslearnedandmorecapriciousMuhamed。Heanswersmostofthequestionsatrandom，stubbornlyraisinghisfootanddecliningtolowerit，soasclearlytomarkhisdisapproval；buthesolvesthelastproblemcorrectlywhenheispromisedapanfulofcarrotsandnomorelessonsforthatmorning。Thegroomenterstoleadhimawayandmakessomemovementorotheratwhichthehorsestarts，rearsandshies。

"That’shisbadconscience，"saysKrall，gravely。

Andtheexpressionassumesasingularmeaningandimportanceinthishybridatmosphere，steepedinanindefinablesomethingfromanotherworld。

Butitishalf-pastone，thesacredGermandinner-hour。Thehorsesaretakenbacktotheirracksandthemenseparate，wishingoneanothertheinevitableMahlzeit。

AshewalkswithmealongthequaysoftheblackandmuddyWupper，Krallsays：

"ItisapitythatyoudidnotseeZarifinoneofhisbettermoods。HeissometimesmorestartlingthanMuhamedandhasgivenmetwoorthreesurprisesthatseemincredible。Onemorning，forinstance，Icametothestableandwaspreparingtogivehimhislessoninarithmetic。Hewasnosoonerinfrontofthespring-boardthanhebegantostampwithhisfoot。Ilefthimaloneandwasastoundedtohearawholesentence，anabsolutelyhumansentence，comeletterbyletterfromhishoof：’AlberthasbeatenHanschen，’waswhathesaidtomethatday。Anothertime，Iwrotedownfromhisdictation，’HanschenhasbittenKama。’Likeachildseeingitsfatherafteranabsence，hefelttheneedtoinformmeofthelittledoingsofthestable；heprovidedmewiththeartlesschronicleofahumbleanduneventfullife。"

Krall，forthatmatter，livinginthemidstofhismiracle，seemstothinkthisquitenaturalandalmostinevitable。I，whohavebeenimmersedinitforonlyafewhours，acceptitalmostascalmlyashedoes。Ibelievewithouthesitationwhathetellsme；

and，inthepresenceofthisphenomenonwhich，forthefirsttimeinman’sexistence，givesusasentencethathasnotsprungfromahumanbrain，Iaskmyselfwhitherwearetending，wherewestandandwhatliesaheadofus……

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Afterdinner，theexperimentsbeginagain，formyhostisuntiring。Firstofall，pointingtome，heasksMuhamedifherememberswhathisuncle’snameis。ThehorserapsoutanH。

Krallisastonishedanduttersfatherlyreprimands：

"Come，takecare！Youknowit’snotanH。"

ThehorserapsoutanE。Krallbecomesalittleimpatient：hethreatens，heimplores，hepromisesinturn，carrotsandthedirestpunishments，suchassendingforAlbert，thegroom，who，onspecialoccasions，recallsidleandinattentivepupilstoasenseofdutyanddecorum，forKrallhimselfneverchastiseshishorses，lestheshouldlosetheirfriendshiportheirconfidence。

Sohecontinueshisreproaches：

"Comenow，areyougoingtobemorecarefulandnotrapoutyourlettersanyhow？"

MuhamedobstinatelygoeshisownwayandstrikesanR。ThenKrall’sopenfacelightsup：

"He’sright，"hesays。"Youunderstand：HER，standingforHerr。

Hewantedtogiveyouthetitletowhicheverymanwearingatophatorabowlerhastheright。HedoesitonlyveryrarelyandI

hadforgottenallaboutit。HeprobablyheardmecallyouHerrMaeterlinckandwantedtogetitperfectly。Thisspecialpolitenessandthisexcessofzealauguraparticularlygoodlesson。You’vedoneverywell，Mohammed，mychild；you’vedoneverywellandIbegyourpardon。Nowkissmeandgoon。"

ButMohammed，aftergivinghismasteraheartykiss，stillseemstobehesitating。ThenKrall，toputhimontherighttrackobservesthatthefirstletterofmynameisthesameasthefirstletterofhisown。MohammedstrikesaK，evidentlythinkingofhismaster’sname。Atlast，KralldrawsabigMontheblack-board，whereuponthehorse，likeonesuddenlyrememberingawordwhichhecouldnotthinkof，rapsout，oneaftertheotherandwithoutstopping，thelettersMAZRLK，which，strippedofuselessvowels，representthecuriouscorruptionwhichmynamehasundergone，sincethemorning，inabrainthatisnotahumanbrain。Heistoldthatthisisnotcorrect。Heseemstoagree，gropesaboutalittleandwrites，MARZLEGK。Krallrepeatsmynameandaskswhichisthefirstlettertobealtered。ThestallionmarksanR。

"Good，butwhatletterwillyouputinstead？"

MohammedstrikesanN。

"No，dobecareful！"

HestrikesaT。

"Verygood，butinwhatplacewilltheTcome？"

"Inthethird，"repliesthehorse；andthecorrectionscontinueuntilmypatronomiccomesoutofitsstrangeadventurealmostunscathed。

Andthespelling，thequestioning，thesums，theproblemsareresumedandfollowupononeanother，aswonderful，asbewilderingasbefore，butalreadyalittledimmedbyfamiliarity，likeanyotherprolongedmiracle。Itisimportant，besides，tonoticethattheinstanceswhichIhavegivenarenottobeclassedamongthemostremarkablefeatsofourmagichorses。Today’sisagoodordinarylesson，arespectablelesson，notilluminedbyflashesofgenius。Butinthepresenceofotherwitnessesthehorsesperformedmorestartlingexploitswhichbrokedownevenmoredecisivelythebarrier，whichisundoubtedlyanimaginaryone，betweenanimalandhumannature。Oneday，forinstance，Zarif；

thescampoftheparty，suddenlystoppedinthemiddleofhislesson。Theyaskedhimthereason。

"BecauseIamtired。"

Anothertime，heanswered：

"Paininmyleg。"

Theyrecognizeandidentifypicturesshowntothem，distinguishcoloursandscents。IhavemadeapointofstatingonlywhatI

sawwithmyowneyesandheardwithmyownears；andIdeclarethatIhavedonesowiththesamescrupulousaccuracyasthoughI

werereportingacriminaltrialinwhichaman’slifedependedonmyevidence。

ButIwaspracticallyconvincedofthetruthoftheincidentsbeforegoingtoElberfeld；anditwasnottocheckthemthatI

madethejourney。Iwasanxioustomakecertainifthetelepathictheory，whichwastheonlyonethatIconsideredadmissible，wouldwithstandthetestswhichIintendedtoapplytoit。I

openedmymindonthesubjecttoKrall，whoatfirstdidnotquitegraspwhatIwasasking。Likemostmenwhohavenotmadeaspecialstudyofthequestions，heimaginedthattelepathymeantabovealladeliberateandconscioustransmissionofthought；andheassuredmethathenevermadeanyefforttotransmithisandthat，forthemostpart，thehorsesgaveareplywhichwastheexactoppositeofwhathewasexpecting。Ididnotdoubtthisforamoment；infact，directanddeliberatetransmissionofthoughtis，evenamongmen，averyrare，difficultanduncertain，phenomenon，whereasinvoluntary，unpremeditatedandunsuspectedcommunicationsbetweenonesubconsciousnessandanothercannolongerbedeniedexceptbythosewhoofsetpurposeignorestudiesandexperimentsthatarewithinthereachofanyonewhowilltakethetroubletoengageinthem。Iwaspersuadedthereforethatthehorsesactedexactlylikethe"tipping-tables"

whichsimplytranslatethesubliminalideasofoneoranotherofthosepresentbytheaidofconventionallittletaps。Whenallissaid，itismuchlesssurprisingtoseeahorsethanatableliftitsfootandmuchmorenaturalthatthelivingsubstanceofananimalratherthantheinertmatterofathingshouldbesensitiveandsusceptibletothemysteriousinfluenceofamedium。Iknewquitewellthatexperimentshadbeenmadeinordertoeliminatethistheory。People，forinstance，preparedacertainnumberofquestionsandputtheminsealedenvelopes。