edge of Time。 Only to the left was the immeasurable expanse intruded
upon by a long spur of mountains； which ran out boldly for some
distance and then stopped abruptly； conquered and abashed by the
imperious flats。 Beneath the mountains were low； tent…like； cinnamon…
coloured undulations； which reminded Domini of those made by a shaken…
out sheet； one smaller than the other till they melted into the level。
The summits of the most distant mountains； which leaned away as if in
fear of the desert； were dark and mistily purple。 Their flanks were
iron grey at this hour； flecked in the hollows with the faint mauve
and pink which became carnation colour when the sun set。
Domini scarcely looked at them。 Till now she had always thought that
she loved mountains。 The desert suddenly made them insignificant；
almost mean to her。 She turned her eyes towards the flat spaces。 It
was in them that majesty lay； mystery； power； and all deep and
significant things。 In the midst of the river bed； and quite near；
rose a round and squat white tower with a small cupola。 Beyond it； on
the little cliff； was a tangle of palms where a tiny oasis sheltered a
few native huts。 At an immense distance； here and there； other oases
showed as dark stains show on the sea where there are hidden rocks。
And still farther away； on all hands； the desert seemed to curve up
slightly like a shallow wine…hued cup to the misty blue horizon line；
which resembled a faintly seen and mysterious tropical sea； so distant
that its sultry murmur was lost in the embrace of the intervening
silence。
An Arab passed on the path below the wall。 He did not see them。 A
white dog with curling lips ran beside him。 He was singing to himself
in a low； inward voice。 He went on and turned towards the oasis； still
singing as he walked slowly。
〃Do you know what he is singing？〃 the Count asked。
Domini shook her head。 She was straining her ears to hear the melody
as long as possible。
〃It is a desert song of the freed negroes of Touggourt'No one but
God and I knows what is in my heart。'〃
Domini lowered her parasol to conceal her face。 In the distance she
could still hear the song； but it was dying away。
〃Oh！ what is going to happen to me here？〃 she thought。
Count Anteoni was looking away from her now across the desert。 A
strange impulse rose up in her。 She could not resist it。 She put down
her parasol； exposing herself to the blinding sunlight； knelt down on
the hot sand； leaned her arms on the white parapet； put her chin in
the upturned palms of her hands and stared into the desert almost
fiercely。
〃No one but God and I knows what is in my heart；〃 she thought。 〃But
that's not true； that's not true。 For I don't know。〃
The last echo of the Arab's song fainted on the blazing air。 Surely it
had changed now。 Surely； as he turned into the shadows of the palms；
he was singing； 〃No one but God knows what is in my heart。〃 Yes； he
was singing that。 〃No one but Godno one but God。〃
Count Anteoni looked down at her。 She did not notice it； and he kept
his eyes on her for a moment。 Then he turned to the desert again。
By degrees； as she watched； Domini became aware of many things
indicative of life； and of many lives in the tremendous expanse that
at first had seemed empty of all save sun and mystery。 She saw low；
scattered tents； far…off columns of smoke rising。 She saw a bird pass
across the blue and vanish towards the mountains。 Black shapes
appeared among the tiny mounds of earth； crowned with dusty grass and
dwarf tamarisk bushes。 She saw them move； like objects in a dream；
slowly through the shimmering gold。 They were feeding camels； guarded
by nomads whom she could not see。
At first she persistently explored the distances； carried forcibly by
an /elan/ of her whole nature to the remotest points her eyes could
reach。 Then she withdrew her gaze gradually； reluctantly； from the
hidden summoning lands； whose verges she had with difficulty gained；
and looked； at first with apprehension； upon the nearer regions。 But
her apprehension died when she found that the desert transmutes what
is close as well as what is remote； suffuses even that which the hand
could almost touch with wonder； beauty； and the deepest； most strange
significance。
Quite near in the river bed she saw an Arab riding towards the desert
upon a prancing black horse。 He mounted a steep bit of path and came
out on the flat ground at the cliff top。 Then he set his horse at a
gallop； raising his bridle hand and striking his heels into the flanks
of the beast。 And each of his movements； each of the movements of his
horse； was profoundly interesting； and held the attention of the
onlooker in a vice； as if the fates of worlds depended upon where he
was carried and how soon he reached his goal。 A string of camels laden
with wooden bales met him on the way； and this chance encounter seemed
to Domini fraught with almost terrible possibilities。 Why？ She did not
ask herself。 Again she sent her gaze further； to the black shapes
moving stealthily among the little mounds； to the spirals of smoke
rising into the glimmering air。 Who guarded those camels？ Who fed
those distant fires？ Who watched beside them？ It seemed of vital
consequence to her that she should know。
Count Anteoni took out his watch and glanced at it。
〃I am looking to see if it is nearly the hour of prayer；〃 he said。
〃When I am in Beni…Mora I usually come here then。〃
〃You turn to the desert as the faithful turn towards Mecca？〃
〃Yes。 I like to see men praying in the desert。〃
He spoke indifferently； but Domini felt suddenly sure that within him
there were depths of imagination； of tenderness； even perhaps of
mysticism。
〃An atheist in the desert is unimaginable；〃 he added。 〃In cathedrals
they may exist very likely； and even feel at home。 I have seen
cathedrals in which I could believe I was one； buthow many human
beings can you see in the desert at this moment； Madame？〃
Domini； still with her round chin in her hands； searched the blazing
region with her eyes。 She saw three running figures with the train of
camels which was now descending into the river bed。 In the shadow of
the low white tower two more were huddled； motionless。 She looked away
to right and left； but saw only the shallow pools； the hot and
gleaming boulders； and beyond the yellow cliffs the brown huts peeping
through the palms。 The horseman had disappeared。
〃I can see five；〃 she answered。
〃Ah！ you are not accustomed to the desert。〃
〃There are more？〃
〃I could count up to a dozen。 Which are yours？〃
〃The men with the camels and the men under that tower。〃
〃There are four playing the /jeu des dames/ in the shadow of the cliff
opposite to us。 There is one asleep under a red rock where the path
ascends into the desert。 And there are two more just at the edge of
the little oasisFiliash； as it is called。 One is standing under a
palm； and one is pacing up and down。〃
〃You must have splendid eyes。〃
〃They are trained to the desert。 But there are probably a score of
Arabs within sight whom I don't see。〃
〃Oh！ now I see the men at the edge of the oasis。 How oddly that one is
moving。 He goes up and down like a sailor on the quarter…deck。〃
〃Yes； it is curious。 And he is in the full blaze of the sun。 That
can't be an Arab。〃
He drew a silver whistle from his waistcoat pocket； put it to his lips
and sounded a call。 In a moment Smain same running lightly over the
sand。 Count Anteoni said something to him in Arabic。 He disappeared；
and speedily returned with a pair of field…glasses。 While he was gone
Domini watched the two doll…like figures on the cliff in silence。 One
was standing under a large isolated palm tree absolutely still； as
Arabs often stand。 The other； at a short distance from him and full in
the sun； went to and fro； to and fro； always measuring the same space
of desert； and turning and returning at two given points which never
varied。 He walked like a man hemmed in by walls； yet around him were
the infinite spaces。 The effect was singularly unpleasant upon Domini。
All things in the desert； as she had already noticed； became almost
terribly significant； and this peculiar activity seemed full of some
extraordinary and even horrible meaning。 She watched it with straining
eyes。
Count Anteoni took the glasses from Smain and looked through them；
adjusting them carefully to suit his sight。
〃/Ecco！/〃 he said。 〃I was right。 That man is not an Arab。〃
He moved the glasses and glanced at Domini。
〃You are not the only traveller here； Madame。〃
He looked through the glasses again。
〃I knew that；〃 she said。
〃Indeed？〃
〃There is one at my hotel。〃
〃Possibly this is he。 He makes me think of a caged tiger； who has been
so long in captivity that when you let him out he still imagines the
bars to be all round him。 What was he like？〃
All the time he was speaking he was staring intently through the
glasses。 As Domini did not reply he removed them from his eyes and
glanced at her inquiringly。
〃I am trying to think what he looked like；〃 she said slowly。 〃But I
feel that I don't know。 He was quite unlike any ordinary man。〃
〃Would you care to see if yo