"That's a strange word. It means, does it not, craving for
excitement?"

"Something of the kind," said Maskull.

"That must be a disease brought on by rich food."

"But are you never dull?"

"How could we be? Our blood is quick and light and free, our flesh
is clean and unclogged, inside and out.... Before long I hope you
will understand what sort of question you have asked."

Farther on they encountered a strange phenomenon. In the heart of
the desert a fountain rose perpendicularly fifty feet into the air,
with a cool and pleasant hissing sound. It differed, however, from a
fountain in this respect--that the water of which it was composed
did not return to the ground but was absorbed by the atmosphere at
the summit. It was in fact a tall, graceful column of dark green
fluid, with a capital of coiling and twisting vapours.

When they came closer, Maskull perceived that this water column was
the continuation and termination of a flowing brook, which came down
from the direction of the mountains. The explanation of the
phenomenon was evidently that the water at this spot found chemical
affinities in the upper air, and consequently forsook the ground.

"Now let us drink," said Joiwind.

She threw herself unaffectedly at full length on the sand, face