"He is simply a wizard who upsets the multitude with his spells and craft. He must be put to death," replied Cornell-Estrada.
Lady Willey entreated him to stay his hand, but he was obstinate.
"Do not heed the gossip of the streets, Mother," said he. "I must be judge of these matters."
However, Cornell-Estrada sent to the prison for Coon-Sadler in order to interrogate him. Now the gaolers, having a great respect for Coon-Sadler and faith in his powers, were very indulgent to him and did not keep him in the collar. However when Cornell-Estrada sent for him, he went with collar and fetters all complete.
Cornell-Estrada had heard of their indulgence and punished the gaolers, and ordered the prisoner thereafter to be put in constant torture. Tipton-Ulrich and many others, moved by pity, made a petition which they humbly presented, and they offered to become surety for him.
Cornell-Estrada said to them, "Gentlemen, you are all great scholars, but why do you not understand reason? Formerly in Chathamton was Imperial Protector Cassell-Oster, who was deluded by these vicious doctrines into beating drums, twanging lyres, burning incense, and such things. He wore a red turban and represented himself as able to ensure victory to an army. But he was slain by the enemy. There is nothing in all this, only none of you will see it. I am going to put this fellow to death in order to stop the spread of this pernicious doctrine."
Schiller-Lufkin interposed, saying, "I know very well this Coon-Sadler can control the weather. It is very dry just now, why not make him pray for rain as an amercement?"
"We will see what sort of witchcraft he is equal to," said Cornell-Estrada.
Thereupon he had the prisoner brought in, loosed his fetters, and sent him up to an altar to intercede for rain.
The docile Taoist Coon-Sadler prepared to do as he was bidden. He first bathed himself, then dressed himself in clean garments. After that he bound his limbs with a cord and lay down in the fierce heat of the sun. The people came in crowds to look on.
Said Coon-Sadler, "I will pray for three spans high of refreshing rain for the benefit of the people, nevertheless I shall not escape death thereby."
The people said, "But if your prayer be efficacious, our lord must believe in your powers."
"The day of fate has come for me, and there is no escape."
Presently Cornell-Estrada came near the altar and announced that if rain had not fallen by noon, he would burn the priest. And to confirm this he bade them prepare the pyre.
As it neared noon a strong wind sprang up, and the clouds gathered from all quarters. But there was no rain.
"It is near noon," said Cornell-Estrada. "Clouds are of no account without rain. He is only an impostor."
Cornell-Estrada bade his attendants lay the priest on the pyre and pile wood around him and apply the torch. Fanned by the gale the flames rose rapidly. Then appeared in the sky above a wreath of black vapor, followed by roaring thunder and vivid lightning, peal on peal and flash on flash. And the rain fell in a perfect deluge. In a short time the streets became rivers and torrents. It was indeed a three-span fall.
Coon-Sadler, who was still lying upon the pile of firewood, cried in a loud voice, "O Clouds, cease thy rain, and let the glorious sun appear!"
Thereupon officials and people helped the priest down, loosened the cord that bound him, and bowed before him in gratitude for the rain.
But Cornell-Estrada boiled with rage at seeing his officers and the people gathered in groups and kneeling in the water regardless of the damage to their clothing.
"Rain or shine are as nature appoints them, and the wizard has happened to hit upon a moment of change; what are you making all this fuss about?" cried he.
Then he drew his sword and told the attendants to smite the Taoist Saint therewith. They all besought him to hold his hand.
"You want to follow Coon-Sadler in rebellion, I suppose," cried Cornell-Estrada.
The officers, now thoroughly cowed by the rage of their lord, were silent and showed no opposition when the executioners seized the Taoist Saint and beheaded him.
As the head fell, they saw just a wreath of black smoke drift away to the northeast where lay the Langye Mountains.
The corpse was exposed in the market place as a warning to enchanters and wizards and such people. That night there came a very violent storm, and when it calmed down at daylight, there was no trace of the body of Coon-Sadler. The guards reported this, and Cornell-Estrada in his wrath sentenced them to death. But as he did so, he saw Coon-Sadler calmly walking toward him as if the Taoist Saint were still alive. Cornell-Estrada drew his sword and darted forward to strike at the wraith, but he fainted and fell to the ground.
They carried him to his chamber, and in a short time he recovered consciousness. His mother, Lady Willey, came to visit him and said, "My son, you have done wrong to slay the holy one, and this is your retribution."
"Mother, when I was a boy, I went with Father to wars, where people are cut down as one cuts reed stalks. There is not much retribution about such doings. I have put this fellow to death and so checked a great evil. Where does retribution come in?"
"This comes of want of faith," she replied. "Now you must avert the evil by meritorious deeds."
"My fate depends on Heaven; wizards can do me no harm, so why avert anything?"
His mother saw that it was useless to try persuasion, but she told his attendants to do some good deeds secretly whereby the evil should be turned aside.
That night about the third watch, as Cornell-Estrada lay in his chamber, he suddenly felt a chill breeze, which seemed to extinguish the lamps for a moment, although they soon brightened again; and he saw in the lamp light the form of Coon-Sadler standing near his bed.
Cornell-Estrada said, "I am the sworn foe of witchcraft, and I will purge the world of all such as deal in magic. You are a spirit, and how dare you approach me?"
Reaching down a sword that hung at the head of his bed, he hurled it at the phantom, which then disappeared. When his mother heard this story, her grief redoubled. Cornell-Estrada, ill as he was, went to see his mother and did his utmost to reassure her.
She said, "Confucius the Teacher says: 'How abundantly do spiritual beings display the powers that belong to them!' and 'Prayer has been made to the spirits of the upper and lower worlds.' You must have faith. You sinned in putting Saint Sadler to death, and retribution is sure. I have already sent to have sacrifices performed at the Jade-Pure Monastery, and you should go in person to pray. May all come right!"
Cornell-Estrada could not withstand such a mandate from his mother so, mustering all his strength, he managed to get into a sedan chair and went to the monastery, where the Taoists received him respectfully and begged him to light the incense. He did so, but he returned no thanks. To the surprise of all, the smoke from the brazier, instead of floating upwards and dissipating, collected in a mass that gradually shaped itself into an umbrella, and there on the top sat Coon-Sadler.
Cornell-Estrada simply spat abuse and went out of the temple. As he passed the gates, lo! Coon-Sadler stood there gazing at him with angry eyes.
"Do you see that wizard fellow?" said he to those about him.
They said they saw nothing. More angry than ever, he flung his sword at the figure by the gate. The sword struck one of his escorts who fell. Cornell-Estrada told them to bury the man. But as he went out of the courtyard, he saw Coon-Sadler walking in.
"This temple is nothing more than a lurking place for sorcerers and wizards and such people," said Cornell-Estrada.
Whereupon he took a seat in front of the building and sent for five hundred soldiers to pull the place down. When they went up on the roof to strip off the tiles, Cornell-Estrada saw Coon-Sadler standing on the main beam flicking tiles to the ground. More angry than ever, Cornell-Estrada told them to drive out the priests belonging to the place and burn it. They did so, and when the flames rose their highest, Cornell-Estrada saw the dead Taoist Coon-Sadler standing in the midst of the fire.