and groaning. They bowed till they swept the floor with their
long hair, bending themselves double, and after each motion bringing
themselves up again to an erect posture. And the dean went backwards
and forwards from one to another, urging them on.

By this time the sight was terrible to behold. The perspiration
streamed down them, the sounds came forth as though their very hearts
were bursting, their faces were hidden by their dishevelled locks,
whatever clothes they wore were reeking wet. But still they flung
themselves about, the motion becoming faster and faster; and still
the sounds came forth as though from the very depths of Tartarus. And
still the venerable dean went backwards and forwards slowly before
them, urging them on, and still urging them on.

But at last, nature with the greater number of them had made her last
effort; the dean retired to his tribune, and the circle was broken
up. But those men with the long hair still persevered. It appeared,
both to Bertram and Wilkinson, that with them the effort was now
involuntary. They were carried on by an ecstatic frenzy; either
that or they were the best of actors. The circle had broken up, the
dervishes were lying listlessly along the walls, panting with heat,
and nearly lifeless with their exertions; but some four, remaining
with their feet fixed in the old place, still bowed and still howled.
"They will die," said Bertram.

"Will they not be stopped?" said Wilkinson to their dragoman.

"Five minutes, five minutes!" said the dragoman. "Look at him--look
at him with the black hair!" And they did look.

Three of them had now fallen, and the one remained still at his task.
He swept the ground with his hair, absolutely striking it with his
head; and the sounds came forth from him loudly, wildly, with broken
gasps, with terrible exertion, as though each would be his last, and
yet they did nothing to repress him.

At last it seemed as though the power of fully raising his head had
left him, and also that of lowering it to the ground. But still he
made as it were a quarter-circle. His hands were clutched behind his
back, and with this singular motion, and in this singular attitude,
he began to move his feet; and still groaning and half bowing, he
made a shuffling progress across the hall.

The dervishes themselves appeared to take no notice of him. The dean
stood tranquil under his tribune; those who had recovered from their
exertions were dressing themselv