tick was soon heard; and the wizard, smiling, said: "We shall have a despatch very soon! Wonderful thing, the telegraph—wonderful!"
A speck was seen in the distance coming quickly toward them. It soon resolved itself into a small boy, running as fast as he could.
"Well, my boy?" said the wizard, rubbing his hands, as the messenger arrived.
"Please, sir, here's a package and a letter for you, sir," replied the boy, puffing a little from his run. "Please sign my receipt."
"Certainly, certainly," said the wizard, scarcely hearing what was said; and handing the package to the magician, he opened his letter. It read as follows:
Your message received. Inclosed find wand as requested. Had to shoot bird. Sorry. Will have it stuffed. Yours, Ahab
The magician opened the package, and there was the wand.
"You are a little behind the age," said the wizard. "I should think you would know better than to race with electricity!"
"You really did it very well, very well, indeed," said the magician, a little vexed; "but, as you say, it was a baby's trick; I was foolish to try it."
"Well," said the wizard, "let us not waste any more time. Do your very best this time, and let us get through with it!"
"Please, sir," said the telegraph messenger, "sign my receipt; I'm in a hurry."
"Get out! I can't bother with you now!" said the wizard, impatiently. "The idea," he went on, to the magician, "of stopping me now for such a trifle as signing a receipt!"
The boy laughed softly to himself, but no one noticed him, so he stood and watched what was going on.
