At one side of the hut stood a large square stone block, and on it an oblong box of earthenware with strange figures of men and beasts on it.
'Is the thing in there ?' asked Cyril, as the Psammead pointed a skinny finger at it.
'You must judge of that,' said the Psammead.

'The man was just going to bury the box in the sand when I jumped out at him and bit him.' 'Light another match, Robert,' said Anthea.

'Now, then quick! which is the East ?' 'Why, where the sun rises, of course!' 'But someone told us--' 'Oh! they'll tell you anything!' said the Psammead impatiently, getting into its bass-bag and wrapping itself in its waterproof sheet.
'But we can't see the sun in here, and it isn't rising anyhow,' said Jane.
'How you do waste time!' the Psammead said.

'Why, the East's where the shrine is, of course.

THERE!' It pointed to the great stone.
And still the shouting and the clash of stone on metal sounded nearer and nearer.