Some sudden impulse of confidence made Jane pluck the Amulet from the neck of her frock.
“Like this,” she said.
The Captain looked at it curiously, but, the other three were relieved to notice, without any of that overwhelming interest which the mere name of it had roused in Egypt and Babylon.
“The stone is of our country,” he said; “and that which is engraved on it, it is like our writing, but I cannot read it. What is the name of your sage?”
“Ji-jimmy,” said Anthea hesitatingly.
The Captain repeated, “Ji-jimmy. Will you land?” he added. “And shall I lead you to the Kings?”
“Look here,” said Robert, “does your King hate strangers?”
“Our Kings are ten,” said the Captain, “and the Royal line, unbroken from Poseidon, the father of us all, has the noble tradition to do honour to strangers if they come in peace.”
“Then lead on, please,” said Robert, “though I should like to see all over your beautiful ship, and sail about in her.”
“That shall be later,” said the Captain; “just now we’re afraid of a storm—do you notice that odd rumbling?”