She sprang to her feet and walked restlessly round the tent, her hands
clasped behind her back, her head thrown up, and her lips pressed close
together. She panted as if she had been running, and her eyes had a
far-away, unseeing look. Gradually she got command of herself again and
the nervous excitement died down, leaving her weary and very desolate.
The solitude seemed suddenly horrible. Anything would be better than
the silent emptiness of the great tent. A noise outside attracted her,
and she wandered to the doorway and out under the awning. Near her the
Sheik with Gaston and Yusef stood watching a mad, ramping colt that was
being held with difficulty by two or three men, who clung to him
tenaciously in spite of his efforts to break away, and beyond was a
semi-circle of Arabs, some mounted and some on foot, leaving a wide,
open space between them and the tent. They were intensely excited,
talking and gesticulating, the mounted men riding round the outer ring
that they formed. Diana leaned against one of the lances that supported
the awning and watched the scene with growing interest. This camp was
many miles to the south of the one to which she had first been brought,
and which had been broken up a few days after her capture. The setting
was wonderful, the far-off hills dusky in the afternoon light, the
clustering palms behind the tents, the crowd of barbaric figures in
picturesque, white robes, the horsemen moving continuously up and down,
and in the midst of everything the beautiful, wild creature, frenzied
by the noise, kicking and biting at the men holding him. After a moment
the Sheik held up his hand, and a man detached himself from the
chattering crowd and came to him salaaming. The Sheik said a few words,
and with another salaam and a gleam of white teeth, the man turned and
approached the struggling group in the centre of the ring.

Diana straightened up with interest. The frantic colt was going to be
broken. It was already saddled. Several additional men ran forward, and