Within the second circle, and using the same
centre, was drawn a third circle, of five feet in radius, and in each
part of the sectors, between the circumferences of the second and
third circles, were written the names of the seven types of spirits
most antagonistic to man's moral progress.[17]
Hamar had brought with him a sack--the same he had used to transport
Satan's corpse--and from out of it he produced a half-starved tabby,
that obviously could harm no one, owing to the fact that its head was
tied up in a muslin bag and its four legs strapped together.
"It's a good thing there is no member of the Society for the
Prevention of Cruelty to Animals anywhere near," Kelson exclaimed,
eyeing Hamar resentfully. "Wouldn't a mouse or a rat have done as
well?"
"No!" Hamar ejaculated, depositing the brute with a plump on the
ground; "the conditions are that the animal sacrificed must be a cat.
I got the poorest specimen I could find, for I dislike butchering just
as much as you do."
"How are you going to do it?" Kelson asked.
Hamar pointed to a chopper. "The conditions say with steel," he said;
"only with steel, and I should bungle with a knife. You must look the
other way. Now help me with the fire."
Besides the cat, the sack contained a dozen or so bundles of faggots,
well steeped in paraffin, several blocks of wood, a tripod, and a big
tin saucepan.
With the wood, a fire was soon kindled in the centre of the circle;
and the tripod placed over it.
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