[1] A mountain chain in northwestern Germany, between the Elbe and
the Weser.
[2] Astrology, alchemy, and divination were three imaginary arts.
The first pretended to judge of the influence of the stars on human
affairs, and to foretell events by their positions and aspects; the
second aimed to transmute the baser metals into gold, and to find a
universal remedy for diseases; while the third dealt with the
discovery of secret or future events by preternatural means.
[3] A divining rod is a rod used by those who pretend to discover
water or metals underground. It is commonly made of witch hazel,
with forked branches.
Wolfert's heart leaped with joy at having met with so learned and
able a coadjutor. Everything went on secretly but swimmingly. The
doctor had many consultations with his patient, and the good women
of the household lauded the comforting effect of his visits. In
the meantime the wonderful divining rod, that great key to nature's
secrets, was duly prepared. The doctor had thumbed over all his
books of knowledge for the occasion, and the black fisherman was
engaged to take them in his skiff to the scene of enterprise, to
work with spade and pickax in unearthing the treasure, and to
freight his bark with the weighty spoils they were certain of
finding.
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