2 I 2 MY HORSE ; MY LOVE 



finest embroidery, and the saddle a marvel of skill, while 

 the stirrups were finely carved, and all the trappings 

 gleamed with jewels and golden fringe. The unhappy 

 Khan Ali, covered with dust, abject and conscience- 

 stricken, had returned, and begged to see the Baron. The 

 sudden appearance of the strange trio was soon noised 

 about, and the Governor and his guests hastened to the 

 courtyard. Khan AU, lifting Ansha's bridle-rein, placed it 

 in the hands of the Baron, and with a cry for mercy and 

 pardon, besought him to take the mare. The Baron, mind- 

 ful of his late experience, promptly led Ansha to the stable, 

 and, locking the door, put the key in his pocket. Return- 

 ing, he questioned the repentant Arab ; and Khan Ali, with 

 many tears and sighs, related how the wretched gold so 

 dishonestly obtained, had brought him only keenest misery. 

 The story of the theft spread far and wide, and preceded 

 him everywhere. All distrusted the man who had so 

 broken his promise. He could make no trade, he could 

 neither buy nor sell ; his wife and children, notwithstanding 

 the great heap of gold the good Baron had given him, were 

 starving. Mahommed was angry, for had he not broken his 

 most solemn vow? He would thank the Baron to take his 

 pet — his blessing — and he had covered her with gorgeous 

 trappings. He had heard that the Baron loved horses, and 

 was good to them, and—' Oh ! would the Baron be kind 

 to his Ansha ? ' 



Then suddenly turning, and no longer seeing the mare, 

 he rent his burnoose, he tore his hair, and, flinging himself 

 on the ground face downward, gave utterance to his heart- 

 rending grief. In vain did the group of bystanders try to 

 comfort him. In vain they showed him the good horse 

 the Baron had left for him to ride home instead of the 



