Tyre alone knows where the Tin Isles are.

It is a splendid secret we keep from all the world.

It is as great a thing to us as your magic to you.' He spoke in quite a new voice, and seemed to respect both the children and the Amulet a good deal more than he had done before.
'The King sent you, didn't he ?' said Jane.
'Yes,' answered Pheles, 'he bade me set sail with half a score brave gentlemen and this crew.

You shall go with us, and see many wonders.' He bowed and left them.
'What are we going to do now ?' said Robert, when Pheles had caused them to be left along with a breakfast of dried fruits and a sort of hard biscuit.
'Wait till he lands in the Tin Isles,' said Rekh-mara, 'then we can get the barbarians to help us.

We will attack him by night and tear the sacred Amulet from his accursed heathen neck,' he added, grinding his teeth.
'When shall we get to the Tin Isles ?' asked Jane.
'Oh--six months, perhaps, or a year,' said the Egyptian cheerfully.
'A year of THIS ?' cried Jane, and Cyril, who was still feeling far too unwell to care about breakfast, hugged himself miserably and shuddered.
It was Robert who said-- 'Look here, we can shorten that year.