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Tyrolese rifles； loaded and primed。
Along with this arsenal of murderous weapons and out…of…date instruments；
is strangely mingled a collection of very different objects； being small
glass…lidded boxes； full of rosaries； chaplets； medals； AGNUS DEI； holy…
water bottles； framed pictures of saints； etc。； not to forget a goodly
number of those chapbooks； struck off in Friburg on coarse bluish paper；
in which you can hear about miracles of our own time； or 〃Jesus Christ's
Letter to a true believer；〃 containing awful predictions； as for the
years 1831 and '32； about impious revolutionary France。
One of those canvas daubs； with which strolling showmen adorn their
booths； hangs from a rafter； no doubt to prevent its being spoilt by too
long rolling up。 It bore the following legend：
〃THE DOWNRIGHT TRUE AND MOST MEMORABLE CONVERSION OF IGNATIUS MOROK；
KNOWN AS THE PROPHET； HAPPENING IN FRIBURG； 1828TH YEAR OF GRACE。〃
This picture； of a size larger than natural； of gaudy color； and in bad
taste； is divided into three parts； each presenting an important phase
in the life of the convert； surnamed 〃The Prophet。〃 In the first；
behold a long…bearded man； the hair almost white； with uncouth face； and
clad in reindeer skin； like the Siberian savage。 His black foreskin cap
is topped with a raven's head； his features express terror。 Bent
forward in his sledge； which half…a…dozen huge tawny dogs draw over the
snow； he is fleeing from the pursuit of a pack of foxes； wolves； and big
bears； whose gaping jaws； and formidable teeth； seem quite capable of
devouring man； sledge； and dogs； a hundred times over。 Beneath this
section； reads：
〃IN 1810； MOROK； THE IDOLATER； FLED FROM WILD BEASTS。〃
In the second picture； Morok； decently clad in a catechumen's white gown
kneels； with clasped hands； to a man who wears a white neckcloth； and
flowing black robe。 In a corner； a tall angel； of repulsive aspect；
holds a trumpet in one hand； and flourishes a flaming sword with the
other； while the words which follow flow out of his mouth； in red
letters on a black ground：
〃MOROK； THE IDOLATER； FLED FROM WILD BEASTS； BUT WILD BEASTS WILL FLEE
FROM IGNATIUS MOROK； CONVERTED AND BAPTIZED IN FRIBURG。〃
Thus； in the last compartment； the new convert proudly； boastfully； and
triumphantly parades himself in a flowing robe of blue； head up； left
arm akimbo； right hand outstretched； he seems to scare the wits out of a
multitude of lions； tigers； hyenas； and bears； who； with sheathed claws；
and masked teeth； crouch at his feet； awestricken； and submissive。
Under this； is the concluding moral：
〃IGNATIUS MOROK BEING CONVERTED； WILD BEASTS CROUCH BEFORE HIM。〃
Not far from this canvas are several parcels of halfpenny books；
likewise from the Friburg press； which relate by what an astounding
miracle Morok； the Idolater； acquired a supernatural power almost
divine； the moment he was converteda power which the wildest animal
could not resist； and which was testified to every day by the lion
tamer's performances； 〃given less to display his courage than to show
his praise unto the Lord。〃
Through the trap…door which opens into the loft； reek up puffs of a
rank； sour； penetrating odor。 From time to time are heard sonorous
growls and deep breathings； followed by a dull sound； as of great bodies
stretching themselves heavily along the floor。
A man is alone in this loft。 It is Morok； the tamer of wild beasts；
surnamed the Prophet。
He is forty years old； of middle height； with lank limbs； and an
exceedingly spare frame； he is wrapped in a long； blood…red pelisse；
lined with black fur； his complexion； fair by nature is bronzed by the
wandering life he has led from childhood； his hair； of that dead yellow
peculiar to certain races of the Polar countries； falls straight and
stiff down his shoulders； and his thin； sharp； hooked nose； and
prominent cheek…bones； surmount a long beard； bleached almost to
whiteness。 Peculiarly marking the physiognomy of this man is the wide…
open eye； with its tawny pupil ever encircled by a rim of white。 This
fixed； extraordinary look； exercises a real fascination over animals
which； however； does not prevent the Prophet from also employing； to
tame them； the terrible arsenal around him。
Seated at a table； he has just opened the false bottom of a box； filled
with chaplets and other toys； for the use of the devout。 Beneath this
false bottom； secured by a secret lock； are several sealed envelopes；
with no other address than a number； combined with a letter of the
alphabet。 The Prophet takes one of these packets； conceals it in the
pocket of his pelisse； and； closing the secret fastening of the false
bottom； replaces the box upon a shelf。
This scene occurs about four o'clock in the afternoon； in the White
Falcon； the only hostelry in the little village of Mockern； situated
near Leipsic； as you come from the north towards France。
After a few moments； the loft is shaken by a hoarse roaring from below。
〃Judas！ be quiet！〃 exclaims the Prophet； in a menacing tone； as he turns
his head towards the trap door。
Another deep growl is heard； formidable as distant thunder。
〃Lie down； Cain！〃 cries Morok； starting from his seat。
A third roar； of inexpressible ferocity； bursts suddenly on the ear。
〃Death！ Will you have done；〃 cries the Prophet； rushing towards the trap
door； and addressing a third invisible animal； which bears this ghastly
name。
Notwithstanding the habitual authority of his voicenotwithstanding his
reiterated threatsthe brute…tamer cannot obtain silence： on the
contrary； the barking of several dogs is soon added to the roaring of
the wild beasts。 Morok seizes a pike； and approaches the ladder； he is
about to descend； when he sees some one issuing from the aperture。
The new…comer has a brown； sun…burnt face； he wears a gray hat； bell…
crowned and broad…brimmed； with a short jacket； and wide trousers of
green cloth； his dusty leathern gaiters show that he has walked some
distance； a game…bag is fastened by straps to his back。
〃The devil take the brutes！〃 cried he； as he set foot on the floor； 〃one
would think they'd forgotten me in three days。 Judas thrust his paw
through the bars of his cage； and Death danced like a fury。 They don't
know me any more； it seems？〃
This was said in German。 Morok answered in the same language； but with
a slightly foreign accent。
〃Good or bad news； Karl？〃 he inquired； with some uneasiness。
〃Good news。〃
〃You've met them！〃
〃Yesterday； two leagues from Wittenberg。〃
〃Heaven be praised！〃 cried Morok； clasping his hands with intense
satisfaction。
〃Oh； of course； 'tis the direct road from Russia to France； 'twas a
thousand to one that we should find them somewhere between Wittenberg
and Leipsic。〃
〃And the description？〃
〃Very close： two young girls in mourning； horse； white； the old man has
long moustache； blue forage…cap； gray topcoat and a Siberian dog at his
heels。〃
〃And where did you leave them？〃
〃A league hence。 They will be here within the hour。〃
〃And in this innsince it is the only one in the village；〃 said Morok；
with a pensive air。