"My name is Maskull," he went on. "I am a stranger--from another
world."

"So I should judge, from your absurd appearance."

"Perhaps it would be as well to say at once," said Maskull bluntly,
"are we, or are we not, to be friends?"

She yawned and stretched her arms, without rising. "Why should we be
friends? If I thought you were a man, I might accept you as a
lover."

"You must look elsewhere for that."

"So be it, Maskull! Now go away, and leave me in peace."

She dropped her head again to the ground, but did not at once close her
eyes.

"What are you doing here?" he interrogated.

"Oh, we Ifdawn folk occasionally come here to sleep, for there often
enough it is a night for us which has no next morning."

"Being such a terrible place, and seeing that I am a total stranger,
it would be merely courteous if you were to warn me what I have to
expect in the way of dangers."

"I am perfectly and utterly indifferent to what becomes of you,"
retorted Oceaxe.