To the great amazement of all present, it began to
move towards the priest, and continued to move until it reached his
feet. This being done, he told the people, that they might conclude from
what they had seen, that the cocoa-nut would follow the thief until it
would break his head. He consented, however, to give him a little
grace--to spare his life until the next day; adding his advice, that the
thief, whoever he might be, had better come to him privately, and tell
him where the property was. In the dead of the night, a tap was heard at
the door of the priest; the thief presented himself, and delivered up
the property. The priest received a present from the owner of the
property, and rewarded the thief for his promptness. After this man was
converted, he was asked how he contrived to make the cocoa-nut move
towards him. "Why, sir," he answered, "if you will carefully divide a
cocoa-nut, scoop out the kernel from one-half of it, enclose a strong,
lively rat, put the parts of the cocoa-nut together, and bind the whole
with saffron-cords, to prevent the crack being seen, and then place it
on a declivity previously prepared, it is clear, that if you place
yourself at the foot of this declivity the rat will twirl the cocoa-nut,
and cause it to descend until it reaches your feet.
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