h the time was at hand when the stream would be interrupted by Job, whether we willed it or not. 'We will stop the water of your new river at twelve o'clock this day, when the sun crosses the meridian,' said Rhombustas, 'as a punishment for your want of generosity.' 'Do it!' said the boys incredulously. 'Come here, Balcazar,' said Steve. We walked together to the edge of the stream; then we muttered, Hi, hae, haec, horum, harum, horum, and stood waving our wands. 'The river do run just the same,' said the strangers derisively. 'The spell takes time to work,' said Rhombustas, adding in an aside tone, 'I hope that fellow Job has not forgotten, or we shall be hooted out of this place.'" -- Thomas Hardy, "Our Exploits at West Hardy" (1892) Hili Hili Mili Mili Origins: Hili hili mili mili (also hili hili kili kili12) is a "meaningless"1 mantra of Buddhist origin. Similar mantras include hala hala and hulu hulu.14 These words invoke planetary forces.15 Facts: This phrase is "similar to the magic words, such as 'abracadabra,' found in other traditions."16 Hinks Spinks, the Devil Winks Origins: This phrase is from a children's counting-out rhyme,17 an echo of magical incantations and charms from ancient times. The word spinks recalls the Sphinx of mythology. Hiram Abif Origins: Hiram Abif is a name from a legend studied in Freemasonry, concerning "freedom of speech, conscience, and thought."18 The legend became a central part of Masonic ritual in the year 17 0. Facts: These are the magic words of professional magician Howard Thur ston (1869-19 6): "During Thurston's stage show, he was known to say, 12 Pratapacandra Ghosha, Durga Puja (1871) 1 The Roots of Ayurveda (1998) 14 Tad Wise, Blessings on the Wind (2002) 15 Philippe Cornu, Tibetan Astrology (1997) 16 Robert A. Yelle, Explaining Mantras: Magic, Rhetoric, and the Dream of a Natural Lan- guage (200 ) 17 Notes and Queries (1854) 18 Paul M. Bessel, "The Hiram Abif Legend" (1999)