Page:The queen's museum, and other fanciful tales.djvu/37

 large table, sat the great magician, Alfrarmedj, busy over his mystic studies, which he generally pursued in the dead hours of the night. Drawing their swords, the robbers rushed upon him.

'Surrender!' cried the Captain, 'and deliver to us the treasures of your castle.'

The old magician raised his head from his book, and, pushing up his spectacles from his forehead, looked at them mildly, and said:

'Freeze!'

Instantly, they all froze as hard as ice, each man remaining in the position in which he was when the magical word was uttered. With uplifted swords and glaring eyes they stood, rigid and stiff, before the magician. After calmly surveying the group, the old man said:

'I see among you one who has an intelligent brow and truthful expression. His