They landed in a few more minutes on a promontory of black rock. The
water on Maskull's garment and body evaporated very quickly. He
gazed upward at the towering mountain, but at that moment some
strange movements on the part of Panawe attracted his attention. His
face was working convulsively, and he began to stagger about. Then
he put his hand to his mouth and took from it what looked like a
bright-coloured pebble. He looked at it carefully for some
seconds. Joiwind also looked, over his shoulder, with quickly
changing colors. After this inspection, Panawe let the object--
whatever it was--fall to the ground, and took no more interest in
it.

"May I look?" asked Maskull; and, without waiting for permission, he
picked it up. It was a delicately beautiful egg-shaped crystal of
pale green.

"Where did this come from?" he asked queerly.

Panawe turned away, but Joiwind answered for him. "It came out of my
husband."

"That's what I thought, but I couldn't believe it. But what is it?"

"I don't know that it has either name or use. It is merely an
overflowing of beauty."

"Beauty?"

Joiwind smiled. "If you were to regard nature as the husband, and
Panawe as the wife, Maskull, perhaps everything would be explained."