按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
s and sits beside his guest on the innocuous corn…bin； busying himself； while lecturing his pupil； in writing up the minutes of the lesson。 He also welcomes with the most serene readiness any restrictions or tests which you propose。 I assure you that the thing itself is much simple； and clearer than the suspicions of the arm…chair critics and that the most distrustful mind world not entertain the faintest idea of fraud in the frank； wholesome atmosphere of the old stable。
〃But；〃 some one might have said； 〃Krall； who knew that you were coming to Elberfeld； had of course thoroughly rehearsed his little exercise in spelling； which apparently is only an exercise in memory。〃
For conscience' sake； though I did not look upon the objection as serious； I submitted it to Krall； who at once said： 〃Try it for yourself。 Dictate to the horse any German word of two or three syllables； emphasizing it strongly。 I'll go out of the stable and leave you alone with him。〃
Behold Muhamed and me by ourselves。 I confess that I am a little frightened。 I have many a time felt less uncomfortable in the presence of the great ones or the kings of the earth。 Whom am I dealing with exactly？ However； I summon my courage and speak aloud the first word that occurs to me； the name of the hotel at which I am staying： Weidenhof。 At first； Muhamed； who seems a little puzzled by his master's absence； appears not to hear me and does not even deign to notice that I am there。 But I repeat eagerly； in varying tones of voice； by turns insinuating； threatening； beseeching and commanding：
〃Weidenhof！ Weidenhof！ Weidenhof！〃
At last； my mysterious companion suddenly makes up his mind to lend me his ears and straightway blithely raps out the following letters； which I write down on the black…board as they come：
WEIDNHOZ。
It is a magnificent specimen of equine spelling！ Triumphant and bewildered； I call in friend Krall； who； accustomed as he is to the prodigy； thinks it quite natural； but knits his brows：
〃What's this； Muhamed？ You've made a mistake again。 It's an F you want at the end of the word； not a Z。 Just correct it at once； please。〃
And the docile Muhamed； recognizing his blunder； gives the three blows with his right hoof； followed by the four blows with his left； which represent the most unexceptionable F that one could ask for。
Observe； by the way； the logic of his phonetic writing： contrary to his habit； he strikes the mute E after the W； because it is indispensable； but； finding it included in the D； he considers it superfluous and suppresses it with a high hand。
You rub your eyes； question yourself； ask yourself in the presence of what humanized phenomenon； of what unknown force； of what new creature you stand。 Was all this what they hid in their eyes； those silent brothers of ours？ You blush at arm's long injustice。 You look around you for some sort of trace； obvious or subtle； of the mystery。 You feel yourself attacked in your innermost citadel； where you held yourself most certain and most impregnable。 You have felt a breath from the abyss upon your face。 You would not be more astonished if you suddenly heard the voice of the dead。 But the most astonishing thing is that you are not astonished for long。 We all； unknown to ourselves； live in the expectation of the extraordinary； and； when it comes； it moves us much less than did the expectation。 It is as though a sort of higher instinct； which knows everything and is not ignorant of the miracles that hang over our heads； were reassuring us in advance and helping us to make an easy entrance into the regions of the supernatural。 There is nothing to which we grow accustomed more readily than to the marvellous； and it is only afterwards； upon reflection； that our intelligence； which knows hardly anything； appreciates the magnitude of certain phenomena。
11
But Muhamed gives unmistakable signs of impatience to show that he has had enough of spelling。 Thereupon； as a diversion and a reward； his kind master suggests the extraction of a few square and cubic roots。 Muhamed appears delighted： these are his favourite problems： for he takes less interest than formerly in the most difficult multiplications and divisions。 He doubtless thinks them beneath him。
Krall therefore writes on the blackboard various numbers of which I did not take note。 Moreover； as nobody now contests the fact that the horse works them with ease； it would hardly be interesting to reproduce here several rather grim problems of which numerous variants will be found in the accounts and reports of experiments signed by Drs。 Mackenzie and Hartkopff； by Overbeck； Clarapede and many others。 What strikes one particularly is the facility； the quickness； I was almost saying the joyous carelessness with which the strange mathematician gives the answers。 The last figure is hardly chalked upon the board before the right hoof is striking off the units； followed immediately by the left hoof marking the tens。 There is not a sign of attention or reflection； one is not even aware of the exact moment at which the horse looks at the problem： and the answer seems to spring automatically from an invisible intelligence。 Mistakes are rare or frequent according as it happens to be a good or bad day with the horse； but； when he is told of them； he nearly always corrects them。 Not unseldom； the number is reversed： 47； for instance； becomes 74； but he puts it right without demur when asked。
I am manifestly dumbfounded； but perhaps these problems are prepared beforehand？ If they were； it would be very extraordinary； but yet less surprising than their actual solution。 Krall does not read this suspicion in my eyes； because they do not show it； nevertheless； to remove the least shade of it； he asks me to write a number of my own on the black…board for the horse to find the root。
I must here confess the humiliating ignorance that is the disgrace of my life。 I have not the faintest idea of the mysteries concealed within these recondite and complicated operations。 I did my humanities like everybody else； but； after crossing the useful and familiar frontiers of multiplication and division I found it impossible to advance any farther into the desolate regions； bristling with figures； where the square and cubic roots hold sway； together with all sorts of other monstrous powers； without shapes or faces； which inspired me with invincible terror。 All the persecutions of my excellent instructors wore themselves out against a dead wall of stolidity。 Successively disheartened； they left me to my dismal ignorance； prophesying a most dreary future for me； haunted with bitter regrets。 I must say that； until now； I had scarcely experienced the effects of these gloomy predictions； but the hour has come for me to expiate the sins of my youth。 Nevertheless； I put a good face upon it： and； taking at random the first figures that suggest themselves to my mind； I boldly write on the black…board an enormous and most daring number。 Muhamed remains motionless。 Krall speaks to him sharply； telling him to hurry up。 Muhamed lifts his right hoof； but does not let it fall。 Krall loses patience； lavishes prayers； promises and threats； the hoof remains poised； as though t