ess
to wait, for nothing else remained to be done. Maskull lit his pipe,
and began to drink the remainder of the whisky. Through the open window
sounded in their ears the trainlike grinding of the sea at the foot of
the cliffs.

"Krag must be in the tower after all," remarked Maskull, breaking the
silence.

"Yes, he is getting ready."

"I hope he doesn't expect us to join him there. It was beyond my
powers--but why, heaven knows. The stairs must have a magnetic pull of
some sort."

"It is Tormantic gravity," muttered Nightspore.

"I understand you--or, rather, I don't--but it doesn't matter."

He went on smoking in silence, occasionally taking a mouthful of the
neat liquor. "Who is Surtur?" he demanded abruptly.

"We others are gropers and bunglers, but he is a master."

Maskull digested this. "I fancy you are right, for though I know
nothing about him his mere name has an exciting effect on me.... Are you
personally acquainted with him?"

"I must be... I forget..." replied Nightspore in a choking voice.

Maskull looked up, surprised, but could make nothing out in the
blackness of the room.

"Do you know so many extraordinary men that you can forget some of
them?... Perhaps you can tell me this... will we meet him, where we are
going?"

"You will meet death, Maskull.... Ask me no more questions--I can't
answer them."

"Then let us go on waiting for Krag," said Maskull coldly.

Ten minutes later the front door slammed, and a light, quick footstep
was heard running up the stairs. Maskull got up, with a beating heart.

Krag appeared on the threshold of the door, bearing in his hand a feebly
glimmering lantern. A hat was on his head, and he looked stern and
forbidding. After scrutinising the two friends for a moment or so, he
strode into the room and thrust the lantern on the table. Its light
hardly served to illuminate the walls.

"You have got here, then, Maskull?"

"So it seems--but I shan't thank you for your hospitality, for it has
been conspicuous by its absence."

Krag ignored the remark. "Are you ready to start?"

"By all means--when you are. It is not so entertaining here."

Krag surveyed him critically. "I heard you stumbling about in the tower.
You couldn't get up, it seems."

"It looks like an obstacle, for Nightspore informs me that the start
takes place from the top."

"But your other doubts are all removed?"

"So far, Krag, that I now possess an open mind. I am quite willing to