134 THE WONDER-BOOK OF HORSES 



outside the walls, while others lodged with 

 friends and acquaintances in the city. Most of 

 these last had brought only a single animal each, 

 and they had done this not so much for the hope 

 of reward, as for the fear of punishment. Every 

 one had brought the best that he had, and I doubt 

 if the world has ever seen a nobler or more won- 

 derful collection of steeds. 



At an early hour in the morning, the whole 

 city was astir. Everybody, both within and with- 

 out the walls, was moving toward the western 

 gate, just outside of which Prince Zal and young 

 Rustem had already taken their stand, in order 

 to inspect the animals that would be presented. 

 A troop of armed men was drawn up in such a 

 way as to form a passage through which the com- 

 peting horses were to be led directly in front of 

 Rustem. On the top of the wall was a covered 

 pavilion, from which the ladies of Zaboulistan, 

 without being seen, could look down upon the 

 concourse below. 



At a given signal, the horses, which had al- 

 ready been brought together at a convenient spot, 

 were led, one by one, before the prince. The first 

 were those of the Zaboulistan herds — strong, 

 beautiful steeds, many of which had been bred 



