There was some pleasure to be extracted from crab-hunting under Cinders'
ardent leadership, but alone it held no fascinations. It really was just
a little selfish of Cinders.

She glanced towards him, and saw that the sand-storm had temporarily
abated. He was working away the heap that had collected beneath him in
preparation for more extensive operations.

"Cinders!" she called, in the forlorn hope of attracting his attention.
"Cinders!" Then, with a sudden spurt of animation, "Cinders darling, just
come and see what I've found!"

But Cinders was not so easily deceived. He stood a moment with his stubby
little body tensely poised, then plunged afresh with feverish eagerness
to his task.

The sand-storm recommenced, and Chris turned with a sigh to contemplate
the blue horizon. A large steamer was travelling slowly across it. She
watched it enviously.

"Lucky people!" she said. "Lucky, lucky people!"

The wind caught her red-brown hair and blew it out like a cloak behind
her. It was still damp, for she had been bathing, and when the wind had
passed it settled again in long, gleaming ripples upon her shoulders. She
pushed it away from her face with an impatient hand.

"Cinders," she said, "if you don't come soon I shall go and find the
Knight of the Magic Cave all by myself."