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action； almost a physical necessity to get up and do something
extraordinary； absurd or passionate； such as she had never done or
dreamed of till this moment。
A low growl like that of a wild beast broke the silence。 Domini did
not know at first whence it came。 She stared at the four men； but they
were all gazing vacantly into the brazier； their naked arms dropping
to the floor。 She glanced at Hadj。 He was delicately taking a
cigarette paper from a little case。 The childno； it was absurd even
to think of a child emitting such a sound。
Someone growled again more fiercely； and this time Domini saw that it
was the palest of the ascetic…looking youths。 He shook back his long
hair； rose to his feet with a bound； and moving into the centre of the
court gazed ferociously at his companions。 As if in obedience to the
glance； two of them stretched their arms backwards； found two tomtoms；
and began to beat them loudly and monotonously。 The young ascetic
bowed to the tomtoms； dropping his lower jaw and jumping on his bare
feet。 He bowed again as if saluting a fetish； and again and again。
Ceaselessly he bowed to the tomtoms； always jumping softly from the
pavement。 His long hair fell over his face and back upon his shoulders
with a monotonous regularity that imitated the tomtoms； as if he
strove to mould his life in accord with the fetish to which he offered
adoration。 Flecks of foam appeared upon his lips； and the asceticism
in his eyes changed to a bestial glare。 His whole body was involved in
a long and snake…like undulation； above which his hair flew to and
fro。 Presently the second youth； moving reverently like a priest about
the altar； stole to a corner and returned with a large and curved
sheet of glass。 Without looking at Domini he came to her and placed it
in her hands。 When the dancer saw the glass he stood still； growled
again long and furiously； threw himself on his knees before Domini；
licked his lips； then； abruptly thrusting forward his face； set his
teeth in the sheet of glass； bit a large piece off； crunched it up
with a loud noise； swallowed it with a gulp； and growled for more。 She
fed him again； while the tomtoms went on roaring； and the child in its
red pillow watched with its weary eyes。 And when he was full fed； only
a fragment of glass remained between her fingers； he fell upon the
ground and lay like one in a trance。
Then the second youth bowed to the tomtoms； leaping gently on the
pavement； foamed at the mouth； growled； snuffed up the incense fumes；
shook his long mane； and placed his naked feet in the red…hot coals of
the brazier。 He plucked out a coal and rolled his tongue round it。 He
placed red coals under his bare armpits and kept them there； pressing
his arms against his sides。 He held a coal； like a monocle； in his eye
socket against his eye。 And all the time he leaped and bowed and
foamed； undulating his body like a snake。 The child looked on with a
still gravity； and the tomtoms never ceased。 From the gallery above
painted faces peered down； but Domini did not see them。 Her attention
was taken captive by the young priests of the Sahara。 For so she
called them in her mind； realising that there were religious fanatics
whose half…crazy devotion seemed to lift them above the ordinary
dangers to the body。 One of the musicians now took his turn； throwing
his tomtom to the eater of glass； who had wakened from his trance。 He
bowed and leaped； thrust spikes behind his eyes； through his cheeks；
his lips； his arms； drove a long nail into his head with a wooden
hammer； stood upon the sharp edge of an upturned sword blade。 With the
spikes protruding from his face in all directions； and his eyes
bulging out from them like balls； he spun in a maze of hair； barking
like a dog。 The child regarded him with a still attention； and the
incense fumes were cloudy in the court。 Then the last of the four men
sprang up in the midst of a more passionate uproar from the tomtoms。
He wore a filthy burnous； and； with a shriek； he plunged his hand into
its hood and threw some squirming things upon the floor。 They began to
run； rearing stiff tails into the air。 He sank down； blew upon them；
caught them； letting them set their tail weapons in his fingers； and
lifting them thus； imbedded； high above the floor。 Then again he put
them down； breathed upon each one； drew a circle round each with his
forefinger。 His face had suddenly become intense； hypnotic。 The
scorpions； as if mesmerised； remained utterly still； each in its place
within its imaginary circle； that had become a cage； and their master
bowed to the fetish of the tomtoms； leaped； grinned； and bowed again；
undulating his body in a maze of hair。
Domini felt as if she； like the scorpions； had been mesmerised。 She；
too； was surely bound in a circle； breathed upon by some arrogant
breath of fanaticism； commanded by some horrid power。 She looked at
the scorpions and felt a sort of pity for them。 From time to time the
bowing fanatic glanced at them through his hair out of the corners of
his eyes； licked his lips； shook his shoulders； and uttered a long
howl； thrilling with the note of greed。 The tomtoms pulsed faster and
faster； louder and louder； and all the men began to sing a fierce
chant； the song surely of desert souls driven crazy by religion。 One
of the scorpions moved slightly； reared its tail； began to run。
Instantly； as if at a signal； the dancer fell upon his knees； bent
down his head； seized it in his teeth； munched it and swallowed it。 At
the same moment with the uproar of the tomtoms there mingled a loud
knocking on the door。
Hadj's lips curled back from his pointed teeth and he looked
dangerous。
〃It is Batouch！〃 he snarled。
Domini got up。 Without a word； turning her back upon the court； she
made her way out； still hearing the howl of the scorpion…eater； the
roar of the tomtoms； and the knocking on the door。 Hadj followed her
quickly； protesting。 At the door was the man with the pitted white
face and the thick lips。 When he saw her he held out his hand。 She
gave him some money； he opened the door； and she came out into the
night by the triple palm tree。 Batouch stood there looking furious；
with the bridles of two horses across his arm。 He began to speak in
Arabic to Hadj； but she stopped him with an imperious gesture； gave
Hadj his fee； and in a moment was in the saddle and cantering away
into the dark。 She heard the gallop of Batouch's horse coming up
behind her and turned her head。
〃Batouch；〃 she said； 〃you are the smartest〃she used the word /chic/
〃Arab here。 Do you know what is the fashion in London when a lady
rides out with the attendant who guards herthe really smart thing to
do？〃
She was playing on his vanity。 He responded with a ready smile。
〃No； Madame。〃
〃The attendant rides at a short distance behind her； so that no one
can come up near her without his knowledge。〃
Batouch fell back； and Domini cantered on； congratulating herself on
the success of her expedient。
She passed through the village； full of strolling white figures；
lights and the sound of music； and was soon at the end of the long；
straight road that was significant to her