"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 only did his weight entirely
disappear, as though he were floating in some heavy medium, like salt
water, but the rock he held onto drew him, as by a mild current of
electricity, and he was able to withdraw his hands only with
difficulty.

After the first moment's shock, he quietly accepted the new order of
things, and set about shifting the carcass. Since there was no
weight in the boat this was effected without any great labour.
Corpang then descended. The astonishing physical change had no power
to disturb his settled composure, which was founded on moral ideas.
Haunte came last; grasping the staff which held the upper male stone,
he proceeded to erect it, after removing the cap. Maskull then