RAKUSH AND HIS MASTER I3I 



This Speech pleased the old prince very much, 

 and he blessed Rustem again, and promised him 

 that as soon as he should reach the ordinary stat- 

 ure of a man he should have his wish. During 

 the whole of his stay in Zaboulistan he wanted 

 the boy to be always with him, nor did he care 

 to see any one else. And when, at the end of the 

 month, messengers came from Seistan with news 

 which obliged him to return, he said to his son, 

 the white-headed Zal : " Remember, that when 

 this child's stature is equal to thine he shall have 

 a horse of his own choosing, a hard saddle like 

 that of a Turanian rider, and a coat-of-mail and 

 a helmet such as we ourselves wear into battle. 

 And forget not this — my last command." 



" And see, father," said Rustem, " am I not 

 now almost as tall as you? " 



Zal smiled and promised that he would remem- 

 ber. 



But before Rustem reached the stature of his 

 father, the good prince of Seistan had passed 

 from the earth, and Zal, himself an old man, had 

 succeeded to his throne. Then news was brought 

 that a vast army of Turanians, the foes of Iran, 

 had come down from the north and were threat- 

 ening to cross into Persia. They had even cut 



