I04 THE WONDER-BOOK OF HORSES 



It appeared to be a horse, and yet it was not 

 like a horse. Its Hmbs were slender and long, 

 its body was strong-built and finely formed, its 

 coat sleek and glossy, and its mane so long that 

 it almost swept the ground. Its color was white, 

 intermingled with golden-yellow, and there was 

 a golden star in its forehead. Folded over its 

 back were wings like those of an eagle, amid the 

 plumes of which the lightning gleamed and 

 flashed. Its eyes were brighter than coals of fire, 

 its ears were sharp-pointed and restless, its nos- 

 trils were wide, blood-red, and steaming. It had 

 the face of a man, although the cheeks of a horse, 

 and it spoke with a human voice in the purest 

 Arabic. 



Mohammed had no sooner seen this wonderful 

 steed than he was filled with a desire to mount it. 

 But when he reached forth his hand and made 

 ready to spring upon its back, it reared high in 

 the air, and would have struck at the prophet with 

 its golden hoofs had not the angel restrained it. 



" Be still, Borak! " cried the latter. " Do you 

 not know who this is whom you oppose? It is 

 Mohammed, the son of Abdallah, of one of the 

 tribes of Arabia the Happy. He is the prophet of 

 Allah, and it is through his intercession only that 

 any creature can enter paradise." 



