Saturday noon
Saturday noon I went to the well and looked on a while . Merlin was still burning smoke-powders , and pawing the air , and muttering gibberish as hard as ever , but looking pretty down-hearted , for of course he had not started even a perspiration in that well yet . Finally I said : `` How does the thing promise by this time , partner ? '' `` Behold , I am even now busied with trial of the powerfulest enchantment known to the princes of the occult arts in the lands of the East ; an it fail me , naught can avail .