TELLS OF THE ARAB'S LOVE FOR HIS HORSE 209 



with little rest, and arrived very worn and weary, so that 

 when Khan Ali had alighted Ansha drew her four feet 

 together under her, after the peculiar manner of Arabian 

 horses, her head drooped over, and her little ears, so sharp 

 and pointed when erect, seemed to unfold, and fell down 

 long, like the ears of an ass. And thus she fell asleep. 

 Khan Ali also stood to rest himself, and shaking from the 

 folds of his bumoose the sand of the desert, and its fine im- 

 palpable dust, with a sigh of relief he drew forth his pipe, 

 and proceeded to light it. Soon he felt the ground tremble 

 under him, and lifting his eyes, saw a line of horsemen 

 approaching. As they passed through the gate which gave 

 them entrance to the enclosure appointed for the rendez- 

 vous, they beheld the travel-stained Arabian and the sleep- 

 ing mare, and said to Khan Ali, — 



'We have come to see Ansha, the famed "Apple of 

 Arabia's Eye." ' 



With salaams and an indicating gesture. Khan Ali said, — 



' Do you wish to try her speed ? ' 



' What ! — notv ! — when she is so nearly dead with 

 fatigue ? ' 



'Yes, Effendi, now. You see that tree, a mile or so 

 distant ? I will give you a fair start, and we shall then see 

 who will reach it first.' 



Being freshly mounted, they assented with smiling 

 disdain to so easy a race and so sure a victory, and started 

 their horses on a dead run. Before they had gone one 

 quarter the distance, the mare passed them with easy 

 strides ; and as they began the last quarter of the distance, 

 they looked far ahead. There sat the Arab on the motion- 

 less mare, under the appointed tree, coolly fiUing his pipe 

 both man and mare in an attitude of easy waiting. 



O 



