The laden boat was rowed slowly round the end of the island, and was made fast in one of the two great harbours that lay inside a long breakwater. The harbour was full of all sorts of ships, so that Cyril and Robert enjoyed themselves much more than their sisters. The breakwater and the quays were heaped with bales and baskets, and crowded with slaves and sailors. Farther along some men were practising diving. “That’s jolly good,” said Robert, as a naked brown body cleft the water. “I should think so,” said the skipper. “The pearl-divers of Persia are not more skilful. Why, we’ve got a fresh-water spring that comes out at the bottom of the sea. Our divers dive down and bring up the fresh water in skin bottles! Can your barbarian divers do as much?” “I suppose not,” said Robert, and put away a wild desire to explain to the Captain the English system of waterworks, pipes, taps, and the intricacies of the plumbers’ trade. As they neared the quay the skipper made a hasty toilet. He did his hair, combed his beard, put on a garment like a jersey with short sleeves, an embroidered belt, a necklace of beads, and a big signet ring. “Now,” said he, “I’m fit to be seen. Come along?” “Where to?” said Jane cautiously. “To Pheles, the great sea-captain, said the skipper, “the man I told you of, who loves barbarians.” Then Rekh-marā came forward, and, for the first time, spoke. “I have known these children in another land,” he said. “You know my powers of magic. It was my magic that brought these barbarians to your boat. And you know how they will profit you. I read your thoughts. Let me come with you and see the end of them, and then I will work the spell I promised you in return for the little experience you have so kindly given me on your boat.” The skipper looked at the Egyptian with some disfavour. “So it was _your_ doing,” he said. “I might have guessed it. Well, come on.” So he came, and the girls wished he hadn’t. But Robert whispered— “Nonsense—as long as he’s with us we’ve got _some_ chance of the Amulet. We can always fly if anything goes wrong.” The morning was so fresh and bright; their breakfast had been so good and so unusual; they had actually seen the Amulet round the Egyptian’s neck. One or two, or all these things, suddenly raised the children’s spirits. They went off quite cheerfully through the city gate—it was not arched, but roofed over with a great flat stone—and so through the street, which smelt horribly of fish and garlic and a thousand other things even less agreeable. But far worse than the street scents was the scent of the factory, where the skipper called in to sell his night’s catch. I wish I could tell you all about that factory, but I haven’t time, and perhaps after all you aren’t interested in dyeing works. I will only mention that Robert was triumphantly proved to be right. The dye _was_ a yellowish-white liquid of a creamy consistency, and it smelt more strongly of garlic than garlic itself does.