'Oh, Psammead dear, how could you leave us!' Suddenly there was a shriek from inside the hut, and the headman staggered out white with fear and fled out through the maze.

The children were as white as he.
'Oh! What is it?
What is it ?' moaned Anthea.

'Oh, Psammead, how could you! How could you!' And the sound of the fight sank breathlessly, and swelled fiercely all around.

It was like the rising and falling of the waves of the sea.
Anthea shuddered and said again, 'Oh, Psammead, Psammead!' 'Well ?' said a brisk voice, and the curtain of skins was lifted at one corner by a furry hand, and out peeped the bat's ears and snail's eyes of the Psammead.
Anthea caught it in her arms and a sigh of desperate relief was breathed by each of the four.
'Oh! which IS the East!' Anthea said, and she spoke hurriedly, for the noise of wild fighting drew nearer and nearer.
'Don't choke me,' said the Psammead, 'come inside.' The inside of the hut was pitch dark.
'I've got a match,' said Cyril, and struck it.

The floor of the hut was of soft, loose sand.
'I've been asleep here,' said the Psammead; 'most comfortable it's been, the best sand I've had for a month.