Page:Ossendowski - The Fire of Desert Folk.djvu/331

Rh sleek and finely molded in body, quick, wild and strong with eyes that gleamed fire and mirrored the great stretches of the desert. And the riders—oh, artists of the whole world, why were you not there? In their wide trousers and short jackets with turbans clinging close to their shaven heads, the Arabs sat first as motionless as stone statues, their horses apparently understanding as well as the riders the solemnity and gravity of the moment, while two orchestras of drums, tambourines, pipes and bells played the martial airs of the desert folk. Then the signal was given, and four of the riders bent low over the necks of their now-transformed steeds and swept out in a great circle of liquid, softly billowing speed. We had no more than gasped and expressed our wonder at the grace and speed of this first quartette before another group was off. As they coursed in fours, sixes and eights, excitement and hazard grew as well among the riders as among those of us who watched this most unique scene. One of the best of the men up proved to be a spahi at the garrison, who made five of the courses and seemed not to tire at all.

After the distribution of prizes by Monsieur de Vitasse, we went for an excursion to the spring of Ras el-Aïn, whose waters burst forth from under little domes of pushed-up sand and joined together to form the stream of the Berguent River, that passes through and gives life to the oasis. I did not notice any fish in it but saw an amazing quantity of small, ordinary water-turtles.

On our way back we were met by Monsieur Marcel, who had come out to tell us that a fantasia was being arranged and that we must hurry on to be in time for it.