w easy, and at the same time pleasant,
it would be to catch hold of the dye-master's feet and tip him backward
into the great sunken vat just near him. But if he had, flight would
have had to be the next move, so he restrained his impulse.

There was something about this Tyrian adventure that was different from
all the others. It was, somehow, calmer. And there was the undoubted
fact that the charm was there on the neck of the Egyptian.

So they enjoyed everything to the full, the row from the Island City to
the shore, the ride on the donkeys that the skipper hired at the gate of
the mainland city, and the pleasant country--palms and figs and cedars
all about. It was like a garden--clematis, honeysuckle, and jasmine
clung about the olive and mulberry trees, and there were tulips and
gladiolus, and clumps of mandrake, which has bell-flowers that look as
though they were cut out of dark blue jewels. In the distance were the
mountains of Lebanon. The house they came to at last was rather like
a bungalow--long and low, with pillars all along the front. Cedars and
sycamores grew near it and sheltered it pleasantly.

Everyone dismounted, and the donkeys were led away.

'Why is this like Rosherville?' whispered Robert, and instantly supplied
the answer.

'Because it's the place to spend a happy day.'

'It's jolly decent of the skipper to have brought us to such a ripping
place,' said Cyril.

'Do you know,' said Anthea, 'this feels more real than anything else
we've seen? It's like a holiday in the country at home.'

The children were left alone in a large hall. The floor was mosaic, done
with wonderful pictures of ships and sea-beasts and fishes. Through an
open doorway they could see a pleasant courtyard with flowers.

'I should like to spend a week here,' said Jane, 'and donkey ride every
day.'

Everyone was feeling very jolly. Even the Egyptian looked pleasanter
than usual. And then, quite suddenly, the skipper came back with a
joyous smile. With him came the master of the house. He looked steadily
at the children and nodded twice.

'Yes,' he said, 'my steward will pay you the price. But I shall not pay
at that high rate for the Egyptian dog.'

The two passed on.

'This,' said the Egyptian, 'is a pretty kettle of fish.'

'What is?' asked all the children at once.

'Our present position,' said Rekh-mara. 'Our seafaring friend,' he
added, 'has sold us all for slaves!'

A hasty council succeeded the shock