the garden of allah-第67章
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of uncertainty。 She had done that。
If the immeasurable sands took Androvsky and never gave him back to
her！ What would she do？
She gazed at the mirage sea with its dim red islands； and at the sad
white plains along its edge。
Wintershe would be plunged in eternal winter。 And each human life
hangs on a thread。 All deep love； all consuming passion； holds a great
fear within the circle of a great glory。 To…day the fear within the
circle of her glory seemed to grow。 But she suddenly realised that she
ought to dominate it； to confine itas it wereto its original and
permanent proportions。
She got up； came out upon the edge of the hill； and walked along it
slowly towards the tower。
Outside； freed from the shadow of the tent； she felt less oppressed；
though still melancholy； and even slightly apprehensive； as if some
trouble were coming to her and were near at hand。 Mentally she had
made the tower the limit of her walk； and therefore when she reached
it she stood still。
It was a squat； square tower； strongly constructed； with loopholes in
the four sides； and now that she was by it she saw built out at the
back of it a low house with small shuttered windows and a narrow
courtyard for mules。 No doubt Androvsky was right and French soldiers
had once been here to work the optic telegraph。 She thought of the
recruits and of Marseilles； of Notre Dame de la Garde； the Mother of
God； looking towards Africa。 Such recruits came to live in such
strange houses as this tower lost in the desert and now abandoned。 She
glanced at the shuttered windows and turned back towards the tent； but
something in the situation of the towerperhaps the fact that it was
set on the highest point of the groundattracted her； and she
presently made Batouch bring her out some rugs and ensconced herself
under its shadow； facing the mirage sea。
How long she sat there she did not know。 Mirage hypnotises the
imaginative and suggests to them dreams strange and ethereal； sad
sometimes； as itself。 How long she might have sat there dreaming； but
for an interruption； she knew still less。 It was towards evening；
however； but before evening had fallen； that a weary and travel…
stained party of three French soldiers； Zouaves； and an officer rode
slowly up the sandy track from the dunes。 They were mounted on mules；
and carried their small baggage with them on two led mules。 When they
reached the top of the hill they turned to the right and came towards
the tower。 The officer was a little in advance of his men。 He was a
smart…looking； fair man of perhaps thirty…two； with blonde moustaches；
blue eyes with blonde lashes； and hair very much the colour of the
sand dunes。 His face was bright red； burnt； as a fair delicate skin
burns； by the sun。 His eyes； although protected by large sun
spectacles； were inflamed。 The skin was peeling from his nose。 His
hair was full of sand； and he rode leaning forward over his animal's
neck； holding the reins loosely in his hands； that seemed nerveless
from fatigue。 Yet he looked smart and well…bred despite his evident
exhaustion； as if on parade he would be a dashing officer。 It was
evident that both he and his men were riding in from some tremendous
journey。 The latter looked dog…tired； scarcely human in their
collapse。 They kept on their mules with difficulty； shaking this way
and that like sacks； with their unshaven chins wagging loosely up and
down。 But as they saw the tower they began to sing in chorus half
under their breath； and leaning their broad hands on the necks of the
beasts for support they looked with a sort of haggard eagerness in its
direction。
Domini was roused from her contemplation of the mirage and the
daydreams it suggested by the approach of this small cavalcade。 The
officer was almost upon her ere she heard the clatter of his mule
among the stones。 She looked up； startled； and he looked down； even
more surprised； apparently； to see a lady ensconced at the foot of the
tower。 His astonishment and exhaustion did not； however； get the
better of his instinctive good breeding； and sitting straight up in
the saddle he took off his sun helmet and asked Domini's pardon for
disturbing her。
〃But this is my home for the night； Madame；〃 he added； at the same
time drawing a key from the pocket of his loose trousers。 〃And I'm
thankful to reach it。 /Ma foi/！ there have been several moments in the
last days when I never thought to see Mogar。〃
Slowly he swung himself off his mule and stood up； catching on to the
saddle with one hand。
〃F…f…f…f！〃 he said； pursing his lips。 〃I can hardly stand。 Excuse me；
Madame。〃
Domini had got up。
〃You are tired out；〃 she said； looking at him and his men； who had now
come up； with interest。
〃Pretty well indeed。 We have been three days lost in the great dunes
in a sand…storm； and hit the track here just as we were preparing for
awell； a great event。〃
〃A great event？〃 said Domini。
〃The last in a man's life； Madame。〃
He spoke simply； even with a light touch of humour that was almost
cynical； but she felt beneath his words and manner a solemnity and a
thankfulness that attracted and moved her。
〃Those terrible dunes！〃 she said。
And； turning； she looked out over them。
There was no sunset； but the deepening of the grey into a dimness that
seemed to have blackness behind it； the more ghastly hue of the white
plains of saltpetre； and the fading of the mirage sea； whose islands
now looked no longer red； but dull brown specks in a pale mist； hinted
at the rapid falling of night。
〃My husband is out in them；〃 she added。
〃Your husband； Madame！〃
He looked at her rather narrowly； shifted from one leg to the other as
if trying his strength； then added：
〃Not far； though； I suppose。 For I see you have a camp here。〃
〃He has only gone after gazelle。〃
As she said the last word she saw one of the soldiers； a mere boy；
lick his lips and give a sort of tragic wink at his companions。 A
sudden thought struck her。
〃Don't think me impertinent； Monsieur； butwhat about provisions in
your tower？〃
〃Oh； as to that； Madame； we shall do well enough。 Here； open the door；
Marelle！〃
And he gave the key to a soldier； who wearily dismounted and thrust it
into the door of the tower。
〃But after three days in the dunes！ Your provisions must be exhausted
unless you've been able to replenish them。〃
〃You are too good； Madame。 We shall manage a cous…cous。〃
〃And wine？ Have you any wine？〃
She glanced again at the exhausted soldiers covered with sand and saw
that their eyes were fixed upon her and were shining eagerly。 All the
〃good fellow〃 in her nature rose up。
〃You must let me send you some；〃 she said。 〃We have plenty。〃
She thought of some bottles of champagne they had brought with them
and never opened。
〃In the desert we are all comrades；〃 she added； as if speaking to the
soldiers。
They looked at her with an open adoration which lit up their tired
faces。
〃Madame；〃 said the officer； 〃you are much too good； but I accept your
offer as frankly as you have made it。 A little wine will be a godsend
to us to…night。 Thank you； Madame。〃
The soldiers looked as if they were going to cheer。
〃I'll go to the camp〃
〃Cannot one of the men go for you； Madame？ You were sitting here。
Pray； do not let us disturb you。〃
〃But night is falling and I shall have to go back in a moment。〃
While they had been speaking the darkness had rapidly increased。 She
looked towards the distant dunes and no longer saw them。 At once her
mind went to Androvsky。 Why had he not returned？ She thought of the
signal。 From the camp； behind their sleeping…tent； rose the flames of
a newly…made fire。
〃If one of your men can go and tell BatouchBatouchto come to me
here I shall be grateful；〃 she answered。 〃And I want him to bring me a
big brand from the fire over there。〃
She saw wonder dawning in the eyes fixed upon her； and smiled。
〃I want to signal to my husband；〃 she said； 〃and this is the highest
point。 He will see it best if I stand here。〃
〃Go； Marelle； ask for Batouch； and be sure you bring the brand from
the fire。〃
The man saluted and rode off with alacrity。 The thought of wine had
infused a gaiety into him and his companions。
〃Now； Monsieur； don't stand on ceremony；〃 Domini said to the officer。
〃Go in and make your toilet。 You are longing to； I know。〃
〃I am longing to look a little more decentnow； Madame；〃 he said
gallantly； and gazing at her with a sparkle of admiration in his
inflamed eyes。 〃You will let me return in a moment to escort you to
the camp。〃
〃Thank you。〃
〃Will you permit memy name is De Trevignac。〃
〃And mine is Madame Androvsky。〃
〃Russian！〃 the officer said。 〃The alliance in the desert！ Vive la
Russie！〃
She laughed。
〃That is for my husband； for I am English。〃
〃Vive l'Angleterre！〃 he said。
The two soldier echoed his words impulsively； lifting up in the
gathering darkness hoarse voices。
〃Vive l'Angleterre！〃
〃Thank you； thank you；〃 she said。 〃Now； Monsieur； please don't let me
keep you。〃
〃I shall be back directly；〃 the officer replied。
And he turned and went into the tower； while the soldiers rode round
to the court； tugging at the cords of the led mules。
Domini waited for the return of Marelle。 Her mood had changed。 A glow
of cordial humanity chased away her melancholy。 The hostess that lurks
in every womanthat housewife…hostess sense which goes hand…in…hand
with the mother sensewas alive in her。 She was keenly anxious to
play the good fairy simply； unostentatiously； to these exhausted men
who had come to Mogar out of the jaws of Death； to see their weary
faces shine under the influence of repose and good cheer。 But the
tower looked desolate。 The camp was gayer； cosier。 Suddenly she
resolved to invite them all to dine in the camp that night。
Marelle returned with Batouch。 She saw them from a distance coming
through the darkness with blazing torches in their hands。 When they
came to her she said：
〃Batouch； I want you to order dinner in camp for the soldiers。〃
A broad and radiant smile irradiated the blunt Breton features of
Marelle。
〃And Monsieur the officer will dine with me and Monsieur。 Give us all
you can。 Perhaps there will be some gazelle。〃
She saw him opening his lips to say that the dinner would be poor and
stopped him。
〃You are to open some of the champagnethe Pommery。 We will drink to
all safe returns。 Now； give me the brand and go and tell the cook。〃
As he took his torch and disappeared into the darkness De Trevignac
came out from the tower。 He still looked exhausted and walked with
some difficulty； but he had washed the sand from his face with water
from the artesian well behind the tower； changed his uniform； brushed
the sand from his yellow hair； and put on a smart gold…laced cap
instead of his sun…helmet。 The spectacles were gone from his eyes； and
between his lips was a large Havanahis last； kept by him among the
dunes as a possible solace in the dreadful hour of death。
〃Monsieur de Trevignac； I want you to dine with us in camp to…night
only to dine。 We won't keep you from your bed one moment after the
coffee and the cognac。 You must seal the triple allianceFrance；
