"It can not be sold. Only an adept can perform it," said Professor Punjab. "I would do it for you, only the conditions are not just right here. But I can, perhaps, show you something you probably never saw before." With a flourish he drew from his pocket a large black handkerchief. This he shook to show there was nothing in it. He spread it over his extended left arm, which was crooked at the elbow. Then he placed his right hand under it, and brought out a large orange. "Well I'll be blowed!" exclaimed Mr. Post. "Ain't got any more of 'em there, have you, Professor?" "There is only one," was the reply, as the man returned the handkerchief to his pocket and passed the orange to Mr. Post. "It is difficult to produce one, I assure you." "Not when you have them concealed in your coat, where you probably put it when you were in the dining car," was Jack's comment, made to himself. "Well you're a wonder," exclaimed the miner. "I'd like to take lessons off you." "I can impart the secrets to only those of the inner circle," said the professor, with an air of great wisdom. "But I am allowed to show those who appreciate my doings some of the workings of my art. Perhaps you would like to see a little more of what I am able to do." "I sure would," replied Mr. Post. "What I am about to do," Professor Punjab went on, "is so remarkable that I am allowed to show it to but one person at a time. Therefore I invite you, Mr. Post, into the smoking compartment with me. Later I will be glad to show my young friends, one at a time." "Not any for mine," muttered Jack, as the miner, who was much interested in what he had seen, followed the fakir to the compartment he had recently left. "I wonder what he's up to," said Nat, when the two were out of hearing. "Something crooked, on the professor's part, you can make up your mind," Jack answered. "Let's find out what it is," suggested Nat. "How?" inquired Jack. "I think I can manage it," put in John Smith. "I have very good hearing, and I can move around easily. Suppose I go and hide near the compartment. Maybe I can hear what they say." "Good!" exclaimed Jack. "Then you come back and tell us, and we'll see what we can do in the way of tricks." John put on a pair of moccasins he had in his valise, and moved through the aisle, now completely hemmed in with the curtains from the various berths. The other boys began to undress within their narrow sections but they did not take off all their clothes, so as to be in readiness for whatever should happen. Jack managed to get into an unoccupied berth next to the smoking compartment. By placing his ears to the partition he could just distinguish what the professor was saying to Mr. Post. "Well, that's about the limit!" John exclaimed softly to himself. "I think we can spoil that proposition for him." Having learned all he wanted to know, the Indian lad returned to his friends.