"You must have cultivated a new form of humour, Krag."

"I am glad if I can amuse you, Maskull, if only for a few days."

"I meant to ask you--how do you know my name?"

"It would be odd if I didn't, seeing that I only came here on your
account. As a matter of fact, Nightspore and I are old friends."

Maskull paused with his suspended match. "You came here on my
account?"

"Surely. On your account and Nightspore's. We three are to be
fellow travellers."

Maskull now lit his pipe and puffed away coolly for a few moments.

"I'm sorry, Krag, but I must assume you are mad."

Krag threw his head back, and gave a scraping laugh. "Am I mad,
Nightspore?"

"Has Surtur gone to Tormance?" ejaculated Nightspore in a strangled
voice, fixing his eyes on Krag's face.

"Yes, and he requires that we follow him at once."

Maskull's heart began to beat strangely. It all sounded to him like
a dream conversation.