Page:The further side of silence (IA furthersideofsil00clifiala).pdf/388

 "Daughter of the Gobs,' he said. 'Why do you thus miscall your lover? Behold, in a little while, you shall seek me in the forests, imploring me to have mercy upon you, and to take you for my own, and in that day, if I have a mind to pleasure you, you shall be to ime my light of love."

"At this, Hôdoh, overcome with rage and shame, fled into the house, shutting the door and- barring it, shrieking abuse and threats at Pa'Ah-Gap, who stood without, laughing harshly, as the frogs croak when the monsoon is upon us.

"Then, when Hôdoli had retreated into the house, Pa' Ah-Gap began to patter a charm in the Sâkai tongue, for these folk are greatly skilled in magic, the gods of the ancient days, whom we liave aban- doned for Allah and his Prophet, abiding with them, as of old they abode with us, and these gods are the children of Iblis. Also, very slowly, he picked his hark loin-clout into little flecks and shreds with his fingers, standing mother-naked in the open space before the house; for these people are shameless, like animals. Then he cast seven pieces toward the north and toward the south, and toward the place where the sun cometh to life, and toward the place where daily the sum dieth. Next he shouted three times in a very bestial fashion, so that the people in the rice-fields heard him and fell a wondering what creature it was that was crying from the jungle. Lastly he danced silently and alone, making a com- plete circuit of the house. All these doings Hôdoh observed, as she peeped at him through the chinks