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 gazed at him, speechless and awe-struck.

"Now I'm sure you're a Djinn!" he murmured at length.

"Greeting, Fen Effendi," said Siddereticus, seating himself cross-legged on the deck. "Alone again?"

"Well, they're not ashore to-day," answered Fen. "Father's up for'ard smoking, an' I think Larry went to talk to the engineer, an' Mother's writing letters, an' Sally's reading, I think."

"Very good," said Siddereticus, and, putting out his hand, picked up the chain from Fen's lap.

"Please tell me about it," said the little boy. "Is it a magic?"

"Well," replied Siddereticus, "it's an amulet—a sort of talisman, you know. They do different things—you wear them round your neck, and they protect you against evil spirits and sickness and famine and such."