RAKUSH AND HIS MASTER I33 



fail to bring it for the prince's inspection, he 

 should be punished without mercy. 



II. THE STEED 



On the day appointed, the finest horses in all 

 Persia were assembled at Zaboulistan, The most 

 famous breeders from Kabul and the Afghan 

 pasture-lands were there with their choicest 

 stock, and the hill-slopes to the south of the city 

 were white with tents. A caravan of low-browed 

 men from the shores of the Caspian had just 

 arrived, weary with their journey, but proud of 

 their horsemanship and of the clean-limbed, 

 swiftly moving animals which they had brought 

 fresh from the freedom of the steppes, and which 

 they were accustomed to ride at full speed, while 

 standing erect on their saddles. Near them were 

 the tents of a patriarchal sheik, who had come 

 from the distant valley of the Euphrates, bring- 

 ing his numerous family and his large following 

 of servants and herdsmen, and four matchless 

 Arab coursers, for which he had already refused 

 more than one princely ofifer. But the greater 

 number of horses had been brought in by the 

 pien of Seistah, some of whom were encamped 



