144 THE WONDER-BOOK OF HORSES 



Sprang up quickly and seized his sword, expect- 

 ing to meet an enemy. But the wily dragon had 

 hastened back into his den, and no cause of fear 

 could be seen in all the valley. 



" Unkind steed that you are," cried Rustem, 

 angrily, " why do you thus needlessly disturb my 

 sleep?" 



Then he lay down again to rest. Soon the 

 dragon came out a second time, fiercer than be- 

 fore, and a second time did Rakush waken his 

 master in vain. A third time did this happen, 

 and a fourth, and then Rustem could no longer 

 restrain his anger. He heaped reproaches upon 

 the horse and abused him with vile epithets, and 

 declared that if his slumbers were again dis- 

 turbed thus uselessly, he would kill him and make 

 his way on foot into Mazinderan. 



Rakush, although distressed, was as watchful 

 as before. When the dragon came out the fifth 

 time he hastened quickly to waken his master. 

 Rustem, filled with rage, sprang up and seized 

 his sword, intending to slay his best friend. But 

 this time he saw the dragon ere it could return to 

 its den, and there followed such a battle as had 

 never been seen before. The dragon leaped upon 

 Rustem and wrapped itself about him, and would 



