RAKUSH AND HIS MASTER 1 39 



prince leaped upon Rakiish's back, and the rose- 

 colored steed bore him over the plains with the 

 speed of the wind. But when the animal had 

 become thoroughly tired, he turned at a word 

 from his master and went back to the city gate. 



" This is the horse that I choose," said Rustem 

 to his father. " Let us give to the Afghan herds- 

 men the prize that is due." 



"Nay," answered the herdsmen; "if thou be 

 Rustem, take him and save Iran from its foes. 

 For his price is the land of Iran, and, seated upon 

 him, no enemy can stand before thee." 



And that is the way in which Rustem won his 

 war steed. 



III. THE DRAGON 



To relate all the adventures of Rakush and his 

 master, — ^how they led the men of Iran against 

 the Turanians, how they alone put whole armies 

 to flight, how they vanquished the Deevs in their 

 mountain-fastnesses, and how they extended the 

 dominions of the Shah from the sea to the great 

 salt plains, — would alone fill a volume. Their 

 names were known throughout the length and 

 breadth of Iran, and so inseparable were they 



