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her arms。
〃It was that night in the dancing…house。 I seemed to see a crowd of
people to whom the desert had given gifts； and to you it had given the
gift of prayer。 I saw you far out in the desert praying。〃
She heard his hard breathing； felt it against her cheek。
〃Ifif it is that； Boris； don't despair。 It may come。 Keep the
crucifix。 I am sure you have it。 And I always pray for you。〃
They sat for a long while in the dark； but they did not speak again
that night。
Domini did not sleep； and very early in the morning； just as dawn was
beginning； she stole out of the tent； shutting down the canvas flap
behind her。
It was cold outsidecold almost as in a northern winter。 The wind of
the morning； that blew to her across the wavelike dunes and the white
plains； seemed impregnated with ice。 The sky was a pallid grey。 The
camp was sleeping。 What had been a fire； all red and gold and leaping
beauty； was now a circle of ashes； grey as the sky。 She stood on the
edge of the hill and looked towards the tower。
As she did so； from the house behind it came a string of mules；
picking their way among the stones over the hard earth。 De Trevignac
and his men were already departing from Mogar。
They came towards her slowly。 They had to pass her to reach the track
by which they were going on to the north and civilisation。 She stood
to see them pass。
When they were quite near De Trevignac； who was riding； with his head
bent down on his chest； muffled in a heavy cloak； looked up and saw
her。 She nodded to him。 He sat up and saluted。 For a moment she
thought that he was going on without stopping to speak to her。 She saw
that he hesitated what to do。 Then he pulled up his mule and prepared
to get off。
〃No； don't； Monsieur；〃 she said。
She held out her hand。
〃Good…bye；〃 she added。
He took her hand； then signed to his men to ride on。 When they had
passed； saluting her； he let her hand go。 He had not spoken a word。
His face； burned scarlet by the sun； had a look of exhaustion on it；
but also another lookof horror； she thought； as if in his soul he
was recoiling from her。 His inflamed blue eyes watched her； as if in a
search that was intense。 She stood beside the mule in amazement。 She
could hardly believe that this was the man who had thanked her； with
tears in his eyes； for her hospitality the night before。 〃Good…bye；〃
he said； speaking at last； coldly。 She saw him glance at the tent from
which she had come。 The horror in his face surely deepened。 〃Goodbye；
Madame；〃 he repeated。 〃Thank you for your hospitality。〃 He pulled up
the rein to ride on。 The mule moved a step or two。 Then suddenly he
checked it and turned in the saddle。 〃Madame！〃 he said。 〃Madame！〃
She came up to him。 It seemed to her that he was going to say
something of tremendous importance to her。 His lips； blistered by the
sun； opened to speak。 But he only looked again towards the tent in
which Androvsky was still sleeping； then at her。
A long moment passed。
Then De Trevignac； as if moved by an irresistable impulse； leaned from
the saddle and made over Domini the sign of the cross。 His hand
dropped down against the mule's side； and without another word； or
look； he rode away to the north； following his men。
CHAPTER XXI
That same day； to the surprise of Batouch； they left Mogar。 To both
Domini and Androvsky it seemed a tragic place； a place where the
desert showed them a countenance that was menacing。
They moved on towards the south； wandering aimlessly through the warm
regions of the sun。 Then； as the spring drew into summer； and the heat
became daily more intense； they turned again northwards； and on an
evening in May pitched their camp on the outskirts of the Sahara city
of Amara。
This city； although situated in the northern part of the desert； was
called by the Arabs 〃The belly of the Sahara；〃 and also 〃The City of
Scorpions。〃 It lay in the midst of a vast region of soft and shifting
sand that suggested a white sea； in which the oasis of date palms； at
the edge of which the city stood； was a green island。 From the south；
whence the wanderers came； the desert sloped gently upwards for a long
distance； perhaps half a day's march； and many kilometres before the
city was reached； the minarets of its mosques were visible； pointing
to the brilliant blue sky that arched the whiteness of the sands。
Round about the city； on every side； great sand…hills rose like
ramparts erected by Nature to guard it from the assaults of enemies。
These hills were black with the tents of desert tribes； which； from
far off； looked like multitudes of flies that had settled on the
sands。 The palms of the oasis； which stretched northwards from the
city； could not be seen from the south till the city was reached； and
in late spring this region was a strange and barbarous pageant of blue
and white and gold； crude in its intensity； fierce in its crudity；
almost terrible in its blazing splendour that was like the Splendour
about the portals of the sun。
Domini and Androvsky rode towards Amara at a foot's pace； looking
towards its distant towers。 A quivering silence lay around them； yet
already they seemed to hear the cries of the voices of a great
multitude； to be aware of the movement of thronging crowds of men。
This was the first Sahara city they had drawn near to； and their minds
were full of memories of the stories of Batouch； told to them by the
camp fire at night in the uninhabited places which； till now； had been
their home： stories of the wealthy date merchants who trafficked here
and dwelt in Oriental palaces； poor in aspect as seen from the dark
and narrow streets； or zgags； in which they were situated； but within
full of the splendours of Eastern luxury； of the Jew moneylenders who
lived apart in their own quarter； rapacious as wolves； hoarding their
gains； and practising the rites of their ancient andaccording to the
Arabsdetestable religion； of the marabouts； or sacred men； revered
by the Mohammedans； who rode on white horses through the public ways；
followed by adoring fanatics who sought to touch their garments and
amulets； and demanded importunately miraculous blessings at their
handsthe hedgehog's foot to protect their women in the peril of
childbirth； the scroll； covered with verses of the Koran and enclosed
in a sheaf of leather； that banishes ill dreams at night and stays the
uncertain feet of the sleep…walker； the camel's skull that brings
fruit to the palm trees； the red coral that stops the flow of blood
from a knife…woundof the dancing…girls glittering in an armour of
golden pieces； their heads tied with purple and red and yellow
handkerchiefs of silk； crowned with great bars of solid gold and
tufted with ostrich feathers； of the dwarfs and jugglers who by night
perform in the marketplace； contending for custom with the sorceresses
who tell the fates from shells gathered by mirage seas； with the
snake…charmerswho are immune from the poison of serpents and the
acrobats who come from far…off Persia and Arabia to spread their
carpets in the shadow of the Agha's dwelling and delight the eyes of
negro and Kabyle； of Soudanese and Touareg with their feats of