He came towards them, and he was dressed in the best of all possible dresses for the seafaring life.
'What are you doing here ?' he asked rather fiercely.

'Do you come to bless or to curse ?' 'To bless, of course,' said Cyril.

'I'm sorry if it annoys you, but we're here by magic.

We come from the land of the sun-rising,' he went on explanatorily.
'I see,' said the Captain; no one had expected that he would.

'I didn't notice at first, but of course I hope you're a good omen.