TWILIGHT LAND

it. Yes; it looked just like a piece of blue glass no
bigger than my thumb, and nothing else.

“Ts that all?” said Jacob Stuck. “And have I
travelled all this weary way and into the blinding desert
only for this? Have I passed by silver and gold enough
to make me rich for all my life, only to find a little piece
of blue glass?”

He looked at the bit of glass, and he turned it over
and over in his hand. It was covered with dirt. Jacob
Stuck blew his breath upon it, and rubbed it with his
thumb.

Crack! dong! bang! smash!

Upon my word, had a bolt of lightning burst at Jacob
Stuck’s. feet he could not have been more struck of a
heap. For no sooner had he rubbed the glass with his
thumb than with a noise like a clap of thunder there
instantly stood before him a great, big man, dressed in
clothes as red as a flame, and with eyes that shone sparks —
of fire. It was the Genie of Good Luck. It nearly
knocked Jacob Stuck off his feet to:see him there so
suddenly.

‘What will you have?” said the Genie. “Iam the
slave of good luck. Whosoever holds that piece of
crystal in his hand him must I obey in whatsoever he
may command.”

‘Do you mean that you are my servant and that I am
your master?” said Jacob Stuck.

‘Yes ; command and I obey.”

“Why, then,” said Jacob Stuck, “I would like you to
help me out of this desert place, if you can do so, for it
is a poor spot for any Christian soul to be.”

“To hear is to obey,” said the Genie, and, before Jacob

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