The Hawk of Egypt | Page 5

attention of the spectators, who were mostly
squatting on their heels, was diverted from the master and the falconer.
They laughed, they moved, whilst some in the back row stood up to see
the fun, leaving for one second an open space through which Damaris
could see the fluttering white bird.
"Ah!" she cried, heartbroken at the sight; then, "Fetch!" she
commanded the dog, pointing across the square.
Now, the dog, who had dispensed with his spiked collar on account of
the heat, had no more idea than the man in the moon what he had to
fetch for his beloved mistress; but, restless from prolonged inactivity
and the smell of strange beasts, he hurled himself in the direction
pointed; and his speed, once he got going, was as surprising as that of
the elephant or rhinoceros and other clumsy-looking animals, and in
very truth, his appearance was just as terrifying.
He crashed head-foremost into the back row of spectators, which, as
one man, yelled and fled; tore along the path made clear for him, and
sensing an enemy in the growling jaguar, was at its throat like a thrown
spear; missing it by an inch as the black beast flung itself back to the
full length of the steel chain which fastened it to an iron ring in the
ground.
Damaris in her turn rushed, across the square, passing the astounded
spectators, who salaamed as she ran. And as she ran she shouted:
"Let the animal loose," she cried. "Give it a chance; let it loose."
But Hugh Carden Ali, not in the least understanding the sudden
onslaught, but with every sporting instinct uppermost, had already leant
down in the seething, growling mass of fur and hate, and loosened the
chain; whilst, with screams of fear and delight, the crowd raced for the

adjacent houses, from the upper windows of which they could hang in
safety to watch the fight.
Disgusting?
Quite so! But have you ever heard of bull-fighting or pigeon-shooting
in civilised, humane Europe?
There followed a frightful scene, during which Abdul, having picked
up the pigeon, hastily flung his birds far behind the growling, spitting,
raging couple, whilst the stallion, rearing in terror, nearly jerked his
master, who had the bridle slipped over his arm, off his feet.
The two dogs of Billi and the two greyhounds leapt and barked and
snapped at the belligerents until Wellington, taking an off-chance,
suddenly turned and bit one of them clean through the shoulder;
whereupon it yelped and howled and fled, whilst shouts of "_Ma
sha-Allah_" and much clapping came from the upper windows.
Damaris ran straight towards the man, who, slipping the bridle, put
both arms round her to draw her to safety; then, suddenly realising the
beauty, the youth and the pure whiteness of her, as suddenly let her go.
"Shall I separate them?" he asked simply.
"No! Not even if you could. Once my dog's blood is up, nothing but
death will satisfy him."
She stood quite still, as white as a sheet, with both hands on his arm,
whilst the great dog hurled himself at the spitting brute, only to meet
the teeth and claws which drew blood at every attempt, until the ground
was crimson where they fought.
And then, with tears streaming down her cheeks, Damaris looked up
into the man's face; then buried her face on his shoulder.
And the seed of love which is in the heart of every human burst through,
the clogging mould of custom and convention and, taking root, put

forth shoots and sprang in one moment into the great tree of love of
which the fruits, being those of purity, honour and sacrifice, are golden.
Yet he did not touch her, having learned his lesson; instead, he raised
his right hand above his head.
"Allah!" he said, in praise of that which had come unto him, "Allah,
there is no God but Thee," just as, with a sudden swish, a flock of
startled pigeons flashing like jewels in the setting sun new low down
across his head, bringing an end to the battle.
For one half-second the jaguar's green eyes shifted, and the dog was at
its throat. There was a mighty, convulsive effort of the hind-legs which
ripped the bulldog's sides, a click, a shiver, and the black brute fell dead,
as the dog, a mass of blood, foam and pride, hurled himself onto the
skirt of his beloved mistress, whilst the enraptured spectators, yelling
with excitement, rushed out into the square with shouts of "Ma
sha-Allah," which means, "Well done, well done!"
"Keep quite still," said Hugh Carden Ali, gently, as Damaris made an
effort to turn; then, speaking quickly to the beaming, salaaming
spectators, who had had the time of their lives gambling on the chances