Krag

“ You will never know."
"Do you know?"
"I know," snarled Krag.
"The devil here is called Krag," went on Maskull, peering into his face.
"As long as pleasure is worshiped, Krag will always be the devil."
"Here we are, talking face to face, two men together.... What am I to believe of you?"
"Believe your senses. The real devil is Crystalman."
They continued descending the landslip. The sun's rays had grown insufferably hot. In front of them, down below in the far distance, Maskull saw water and land intermingled. It appeared that they were travelling toward a lake district. ”

“ It makes all the difference whether one sees darkness through the light, or brightness through the shadows."
"A clear eye is the best. Tormance is an ugly world, and I greatly prefer to know it as it really is."
"The devil made it ugly, not Crystalman. These are Crystalman's thoughts, which you see around you. He is nothing but Beauty and Pleasantness. Even Krag won't have the effrontery to deny that."
"It's very nice here," said Krag, looking around him malignantly. "One only wants a cushion and half a dozen houris to complete it."
Maskull disengaged himself from Gangnet. ”

“ As for Swaylone, if you like I will tell you his legend."
"If you please," said Maskull.
"In a far-back age," began Gleameil, "when the seas were hot, and clouds hung heavily over the earth, and life was rich with transformations, Swaylone came to this island, on which men had never before set foot, and began to play his music—the first music in Tormance. Nightly, when the moon shone, people used to gather on this shore behind us, and listen to the faint, sweet strains floating from over the sea. One night, Shaping (whom you call Crystalman) was passing this way in company with Krag. ”

“ Then they faded out of sight again.
“Is that a sign from Shaping?” asked Maskull, in a low, awed tone.
“Perhaps it is. It is a time mirage.”
“What can that be, Joiwind?”
“You see, dear Maskull, the temple does not yet exist but it will do so, because it must. What you and I are now doing in simplicity, wise men will do hereafter in full knowledge.”
“It is right for man to pray,” said Maskull. “Good and evil in the world don’t originate from nothing. God and Devil must exist. And we should pray to the one, and fight the other.”
“Yes, we must fight Krag.” ”

“ Kragen, masculine, ‘collar,’ from Middle High German krage, masculine, ‘neck’ (of men and animals) , also ‘nape,’ then further, ‘article worn round the neck, collar’; wanting in Old High German, Old Saxon, Anglo-Saxon, and Old Icelandic Middle English crawe, English craw, ‘crop’ (of birds) , point to Anglo-Saxon *craga; English variant crag, ‘neck, nape,’ dialectic also ‘crop’; Modern Icelandic kragi, masculine, ‘collar,’ is of German origin. Gothic kraga, masculine, ‘neck, throat,’ is wanting. ”

“ His instrument was so cracked, that never since has it played right. From that time forth Swaylone could utter only distorted music; yet it called to folk more than the other sort. Many men crossed over to the island during his lifetime, to listen to the amazing tones, but none could endure them; all died. After Swaylone's death, another musician took up the tale; and so the light has passed down from torch to torch, till now Earthrid bears it."
"An interesting legend," commented Maskull. "But who is Krag?" ”

“ Kragaef, still grasping her by the shoulder, drew her towards the house, and she followed him, trembling with cold and the dampness of the gravel path under her bare feet, hastening and stumbling, feeling at each step the painful restraint of her golden chain, and making her golden anklets jangle—so they passed into the house. ”

“ The quondam assumption that the word is identical with Krug (1) , “because formerly an actual or a carved pitcher was hung in front of a tavern,” is demolished by the fact that Krug, ‘urceus,’ is entirely unknown to Low German (and Dutch) ; the Old Saxon term krûka was used. On the other hand, Krug, ‘alehouse,’ was originally wanting in High German, in which Krug, ‘pitcher,’ was current at the earliest period. ”

“ There's always a 'can' where there's an 'ought.'"
"I do mean to try." Mrs. Cragg was looking down and twisting a corner of the tablecloth. "And I want you to help me. I know you can—more than anybody."
"I'd do anything I was able."
"Yes, I know you would. I'm sure of that. Pattie, I want to know— do you think you can ever forgive me for getting at your letters, and then telling Mrs. Smithers what I thought? I told Mr. Cragg the other day about it; and he says you behaved beautifully, and we've got to do the best we can to make up to you for what you've had to bear. ”

“ It seemed an impressive and solemn approach to the mighty crag, growing every moment grander and more majestic in the pale radiance of the moonlight. The triple effect, both vertically and laterally, showed more effectively, though less distinctly, the bare-browed cliff looking even more imposing than in daylight,—every scarped crag and splintered pinnacle and barbicon standing out in the sharpest contrast of light and shade. The travellers gazed up at the giant, towering above them to such a height that it made one dizzy to try to follow it with the eye ”

“ And how's Krak?"
"Just the same as ever!"
"Brought a birch with her, in case I should rebel at the last?"
Victoria laughed.
"Oh, well, you'll see her to-morrow," she remarked. "She's just the same. I'm rather glad, you know, that Krak hasn't been softened by age. It would have been commonplace."
"Besides, one doesn't want to exaggerate the power of advancing years. You didn't come for anything except to tell me about Krak?"
Victoria got up, came to me, and kissed me.
"No, nothing else," she said. She stopped a moment, and then remarked abruptly, "You're not a bit like William Adolphus." ”

“ Searles Wood, who has named the crag fossil N. catenoides, I am induced to regard the crag and drift forms as one species, and as identical with the living British monilifera. The furrow round the spire is certainly owing to a process of decortication produced during decay. N. fragilis, Smith, appears to me to be the same much decayed.
Loc., fossil. In the Scotch, English, Manx, and Irish glacial beds, frequent. In the mammaliferous crag at Bramerton. [Sweden.]
Loc., living. In the Celtic and Northern (and Lusitanian) regions of the European Seas. ”

“ The archbishop had played me terribly false; the Arabian Nights were no less delusive. Krak was as unmoved and business-like as usual. I was determined not to cry—not to-night. I was not very hard tried; almost directly my mother said, "That will do." There was a pause; no doubt Krak's face expressed a surprised protest. "Yes, that's enough to-day," said my mother, and she added, "Get into bed, Augustin. You must learn to be an obedient boy before you can be a good king." ”

“ He knew it must come to that, but for the moment he temporised.
"The present rate," he explained. "Business hasn't been good lately, and we are spending too much—a lot too much—all round."
"I s'pose you mean to say I'm spending too much, Mr. Cragg?"
Cragg did mean it, and he was silent. Mrs. Cragg held her head high, but curling-pins are not dignified. She also grew very red, and Dot, gazing with curious eyes, remarked,—"Ma-ma angly."
"The way you encourage that child's impertinence!"
"My dear, she does not understand. She is but a babe. ”

“ Beyond was chaos—a dark gulf, into which the building had disappeared.
No voice spoke, no human being stirred. Cragg could see nothing of Mr. Dale, or of the maid-servant. Only Pattie Dale was visible, and Cragg hurried beneath the window.
"What does it all mean? Are you hurt?" he cried. He was close enough to render shouting unnecessary.
Pattie made no reply. She seemed to be dazed, perhaps hardly conscious. He could see that her blue eyes were widely-opened in a fixed stare.
"My dear," he called, "you must wake up; you must let me help you down. It isn't safe there." ”

“ Cragg, you must not behave like this," she said. "It will not do. You are hurting Dot. She cannot bear the movement. Go out of the room, please, until you can be quiet."
Mrs. Cragg's only concession was to move a few paces off, and there to stand, holding now to the table, and sobbing still in a strident fashion. Pattie went again to Dot, and leant over her, and held her little hand very tenderly. Then, to her relief, Cragg came in, bringing the doctor, a young man with a kind manner, who lived in the next street. Happily, Cragg had found him at home. ”

“ After quitting the town he had to walk a little way along a road, with rough ground on either side. No other houses lay near, except one row of small workmen's cottages down a lane to the right. Cragg passed that lane, and went straight on. He could see the newly built house clearly, and a figure seated in the front window over the dining-room drew his attention. That was at the moment when Pattie noticed him, and remarked upon him to her father.
"It's a nice evening," Cragg murmured aloud. "Shouldn't wonder if Mr. Dale was to think the place pretty to-day." ”

“ Each word I utter is important. When Kruger comes, you must be in your stateroom, asleep. Nothing must betray to him that you expect or fear his coming! Nothing must inform him that you know of his crime against your father; and, above all, nothing must suggest to him that I am on your train. Our one great hope is, that he does not know I'm here, and may be—just a little careless! Remember, you have nothing to fear as long as I live!"
But Buck Powers breaks in on them at this moment, and mutters: "Cap, Kruger's here! He's talkin' with the men over there!" ”

“ Kruger was his pal. If he wants to revenge the fall of Kruger he may shoot from behind a tree. If not, he'll shoot from the open, and it will be an even fight."
The terror of it all, the whole realization, sprang up in the girl. In a moment she was crying: "Stop him, John—for Heaven's sake, find a way to stop him."
"There is only one power that can turn the trick, I'm afraid," answered
John Mark. "That power is Lefty."
"If he shoots Lefty he'll come straight toward us on his way to the house, and if he sees you—"
"If he sees me he'll shoot me, of course," declared Mark. ”

“ She also told him that in case of extreme and violent need, he could find speedy help by calling on her name; declaring that she trusted partially in her divine attributes, and that, consorting as she did in a manner with the gods, she wielded an innate and heavenly power. Erik said that he was naturally drawn to stand by his brother, and that the bird was infamous which fouled its own nest. But Kraka was more vexed by her own carelessness than weighed down by her son's ill-fortune: for in old time it made a craftsman bitterly ashamed to be outwitted by his own cleverness. ”

“ Cragg was puzzled how to answer. He could not make out Pattie, and he found himself saying involuntarily:
"I wonder whether you are older than I have fancied?"
"I was sixteen on my last birthday."
"You were! Really! I have thought of you as only—well, about thirteen."
"No; I am sixteen. People have often taken me for less. Old enough to be independent." And a curious smile flickered over her small face.
"We must see about that. I am not sure. You would not find it so easy as you may think to make your way—unaided."
"No. But people would help me. People are always so kind." ”

“ The scientist was already scrambling down the side of the ravine. Craig followed him. He recognized the correctness of Michaelson's deductions. The man had whispered "Ogrum." Then he had knelt. There could only be one explanation: he thought they were somebody else. The thought raised a question in Craig's mind: What could inspire such terrifying fear in this man? What horror walked through these jungles that a man would fear more than he feared a dragon?
Craig looked up at his squad on the bank of the ravine. "Be on your guard," he said. ”

“ The industry of Professor Krug has been indefatigable, and the versatility of his talents is prodigious. For the last forty years, scarcely an event has occurred, scarcely an opinion has been broached in Germany, without his having come forward and taken part in the discussion. No subject comes amiss to his band, from the philosophy of ancient down to the liberation of modern Greece. ”

“ Craig said. The monster that is always hungry! The bright beast that eats forever! A shiver passed through him as he remembered how Guru had described whatever was in the cave. "What is the monster?" he questioned.
But Guru either did not understand or could not explain, and Craig was left with no knowledge of the nature of the monster. However he could guess that the Ogrum regarded the thing in the temple as a god and offered sacrifices to it, an impression which Guru confirmed. ”

“ It would be easy to work his way round outside Putworth.
The ruse was of small avail. Mrs. Cragg watched him go, and tossed her head.
"As if I didn't know!" she said aloud. "He's crazed about those people. He'll go to-night before he comes home if it takes him two hours to get there. He's as obstinate as an old mule, once he takes a notion into his head. We poor women have a lot to put up with in the men, and no mistake! Anyway, I'm sure I have."
It never occurred to Mrs. Cragg that her husband might also find a great deal to put up with in her. ”

“ Crag and Prochaska were alone, now, in the stripped cabin of the Aztec. Nagel and Richter, under Larkwell's command, had departed for Bandit an hour earlier with the last of their supplies. Crag disliked splitting the crew but saw no alternative. He had to gamble. The element of certainty, the ability to predict, the expectations of logic—all these had vanished, swept away by the vagaries of chance. They could do only so much. Beyond that their fate was pawn to the chaotic cross fires of human elements pitted against the architecture of the cosmos. ”