“That’s an honourable motive,” said Panawe.  “And what’s more, it may be true, though you spoke it as a prevarication.”

“As far as it goes, it’s quite true,” said Maskull, staring at him with annoyance and surprise.

The swampy lake extended for about half a mile from where they were standing to the lower buttresses of the mountain.  Feathery purple reeds showed themselves here and there through the shallows.  The water was dark green.  Maskull did not see how they were going to cross it.

Joiwind caught his arm.  “Perhaps you don’t know that the lake will bear us?”

Panawe walked onto the water; it was so heavy that it carried his weight.  Joiwind followed with Maskull.  He instantly started to slip about—­nevertheless the motion was amusing, and he learned so fast, by watching and imitating Panawe, that he was soon able to balance himself without assistance.  After that he found the sport excellent.

For the same reason that women excel in dancing, Joiwind’s half falls and recoveries were far more graceful and sure than those of either of the men.  Her slight, draped form—­dipping, bending, rising, swaying, twisting, upon the surface of the dark water—­this was a picture Maskull could not keep his eyes away from.

The lake grew deeper.  The gnawl water became green-black.  The crags, gullies, and precipices of the shore could now be distinguished in detail.  A waterfall was visible, descending several hundred feet.  The surface of the lake grew disturbed—­so much so that Maskull had difficulty in keeping his balance.  He therefore threw himself down and started swimming on the face of the water.  Joiwind turned her head, and laughed so joyously that all her teeth flashed in the sunlight.

They landed in a few more minutes on a promontory of black rock.  The water on Maskull’s garment and body evaporated very quickly.  He gazed upward at the towering mountain, but at that moment some strange movements on the part of Panawe attracted his attention.  His face was working convulsively, and he began to stagger about.  Then he put his hand to his mouth and took from it what looked like a bright-coloured pebble.  He looked at it carefully for some seconds.  Joiwind also looked, over his shoulder, with quickly changing colors.  After this inspection, Panawe let the object—­ whatever it was—­fall to the ground, and took no more interest in it.

“May I look?” asked Maskull; and, without waiting for permission, he picked it up.  It was a delicately beautiful egg-shaped crystal of pale green.

“Where did this come from?” he asked queerly.

Panawe turned away, but Joiwind answered for him.  “It came out of my husband.”

“That’s what I thought, but I couldn’t believe it.  But what is it?”

“I don’t know that it has either name or use.  It is merely an overflowing of beauty.”

“Beauty?”