him, in order to get a drink.

The stranger poked his face up into Maskull's.

"Well, giant, what do you think of it all? Wouldn't you like to see the
land where this sort of fruit grows wild?"

"What sort of fruit?"

"That specimen goblin."

Maskull waved him away with his huge hand. "Who are you, and how did you
come here?"

"Call up your friend. Perhaps he may recognise me." Nightspore had moved
a chair to the fire, and was watching the embers with a set, fanatical
expression.

"Let Krag come to me, if he wants me," he said, in his strange voice.

"You see, he does know me," uttered Krag, with a humorous look. Walking
over to Nightspore, he put a hand on the back of his chair.

"Still the same old gnawing hunger?"

"What is doing these days?" demanded Nightspore disdainfully, without
altering his attitude.

"Surtur has gone, and we are to follow him."

"How do you two come to know each other, and of whom are you speaking?"
asked Maskull, looking from one to the other in perplexity.

"Krag has something for us. Let us go outside," replied Nightspore. He
got up, and glanced over his shoulder. Maskull, following the direction
of his eye, observed that the few remaining men were watching their
little group attentively.

Chapter 2. IN THE STREET

The three men gathered in the street outside the house. The night was
slightly frosty, but particularly clear, with an east wind blowing. The
multitude of blazing stars caused the sky to appear like a vast scroll
of hieroglyphic symbols. Maskull felt oddly excited; he had a sense that
something extraordinary was about to happen "What brought you to this
house tonight, Krag, and what made you do what you did? How are we
understand that apparition?"

"That must have been Crystalman's expression on face," muttered
Nightspore.

"We have discussed that, haven't we, Maskull? Maskull is anxious to
behold that rare fruit in its native wilds."

Maskull looked at Krag carefully, trying to analyse his own feelings
toward him. He was distinctly repelled by the man's personality, yet
side by side with this aversion a savage, living energy seemed to spring
up in his heart that in some strange fashion was attributable to Krag.

"Why do you insist on this simile?" he asked.

"Because it is apropos. Nightspore's quite right. That was Crystalman's
face, and we are going to Crystalman's country."

"And where is this mysterious country?"

"Tormance."

"That's a qua