Cyril and Robert stood beside him, ready to spring on him if one of his hands had moved but ever so little towards the magic treasure that was theirs.

But his hands did not move, only his eyes opened very wide, and so did everyone else's for the Amulet the Priest had now quivered and shook; and then, as steel is drawn to the magnet, it was drawn across the white counterpane, nearer and nearer to the Amulet, warm from the neck of Jane.

And then, as one drop of water mingles with another on a rain-wrinkled window-pane, as one bead of quick-silver is drawn into another bead, Rekh-mara's Amulet slipped into the other one, and, behold! there was no more but the one Amulet! 'Black magic!' cried Rekh-mara, and sprang forward to snatch the Amulet that had swallowed his.

But Anthea caught it up, and at the same moment the Priest was jerked back by a rope thrown over his head.

It drew, tightened with the pull of his forward leap, and bound his elbows to his sides.