be a pity to let
the chance slip, since you're going to Lichstorm."

It was now Corpang's turn to take Maskull by the arm. "This journey will
end badly."

"Why so?"

"Your goal was Muspel a short while ago; now it is women."

"Let me alone," said Maskull. "Give luck a slack rein. What brought this
boat here?"

"What is this talk about Muspel?" demanded Haunte.

Corpang caught his shoulder roughly, and stared straight into his eyes.
"What do you know?"

"Not much, but something, perhaps. Ask me at supper. Now it is high time
to start. Navigating the mountains by night isn't child's play, let me
tell you."

"I shall not forget," said Corpang.

Maskull gazed down at the boat. "Are we to get in?"

"Gently, my friend. It's only canework and skin."

"First of all, you might enlighten me as to how you have contrived to
dispense with the laws of gravitation."

Haunte smiled sarcastically. "A secret in your ear, Maskull. All laws
are female. A true male is an outlaw--outside the law."

"I don't understand."

"The great body of the earth is continually giving out female particles,
and the male parts of rocks and living bodies are equally continually
trying to reach them. That's gravitation."

"Then how do you manage with your boat?"

"My two male stones do the work. The one underneath the boat prevents it
from falling to the ground; the one in the stem shuts it off from solid
objects in the rear. The only part of the boat attracted by any part
of the earth is the bow, for that's the only part the light of the male
stones does not fall on. So in that direction the boat travels."

"And what are these wondrous male stones?"

"They really are male stones. There is nothing female in them; they
are showering out male sparks all the time. These sparks devour all the
female particles rising from the earth. No female particles are left
over to attract the male parts of the boat, and so they are not in the
least attracted in that direction."

Maskull ruminated for a minute.

"With your hunting, and boatbuilding, and science, you seem a very
handy, skilful fellow, Haunte.... But the sun's sinking, and we'd better
start."

"Get down first, then, and shift that carcass farther forward. Then you
and your gloomy friend can sit amidships."

Maskull immediately climbed down, and dropped himself into the boat; but
then he received a surprise. The moment he stood on the frail bottom,
still clinging to the rock, not onl