"I don't know what I want. But I thought the thing was curious
enough to be mentioned."

"It is not a bad thing to hear voices," said Krag, "but you mustn't
for a minute imagine that all is wise that comes to you out of the
night world."

When they had arrived at the open gateway of the tower, he
immediately set foot on the bottom step of the spiral staircase and
ran nimbly up, bearing the lantern. Maskull followed him with some
trepidation, in view of his previous painful experience on these
stairs, but when, after the first half-dozen steps, he discovered
that he was still breathing freely, his dread changed to relief and
astonishment, and he could have chattered like a girl.

At the lowest window Krag went straight ahead without stepping, but
Maskull clambered into the embrasure, in order to renew his
acquaintance with the miraculous spectacle of the Arcturian group.
The lens had lost its magic property. It had become a common sheet
of glass, through which the ordinary sky field appeared.

The climb continued, and at the second and third windows he again
mounted and stared out, but still the common sights presented
themselves. After that, he gave up and looked through no more
windows.

Krag and Nightspore meanwhile had gone on ahead with the light, so
that he had to complete the ascent in darkness. When he was near the
top, he saw yellow light shining through the crack of a half-opened
door. His companions were standing just inside a small room, shut