know I have told you they will kill me. In the insidest inside
there is a stone box, and in it there is the Amulet. None knows
whence it came. It came from very far away.'

'Have you seen it?' asked Anthea.

The girl nodded.

'Is it anything like this?' asked Jane, rashly producing the
charm.

The girl's face turned a sickly greenish-white.

'Hide it, hide it,' she whispered. 'You must put it back. If
they see it they will kill us all. You for taking it, and me for
knowing that there was such a thing. Oh, woe--woe! why did you
ever come here?'

'Don't be frightened,' said Cyril. 'They shan't know. Jane,
don't you be such a little jack-ape again--that's all. You see
what will happen if you do. Now, tell me--' He turned to the
girl, but before he had time to speak the question there was a
loud shout, and a man bounded in through the opening in the
thorn-hedge.

'Many foes are upon us!' he cried. 'Make ready the defences!'

His breath only served for that, and he lay panting on the
ground. 'Oh, DO let's go home!' said Jane. 'Look here--I don't
care--I WILL!'