BROIEFORT, THE BLACK ARABIAN 



I. THE GIFT OF FORTUNE 



'T WOULD rather have that horse than aught 

 X else that now is or ever has been." 



It must have been a rare animal indeed to 

 bring this exclamation from the mouth of young 

 Ogier the Dane, while he was fighting a hand- 

 to-hand duel with Brunamont, the giant king 

 and champion of the Moors. He knew that his 

 life depended upon the issue of that fight, and yet 

 he could not think of anything but his enemy's 

 steed; and, as he stood thrusting and parrying 

 with his sword, he kept repeating to himself: 



" Ah ! if Fortune and the good angels would 

 only give me that horse ! " 



And at last Fortune did favor him. Fierce 

 Brunamont was overthrown and left senseless 

 upon the field, the Moorish host was routed with 

 great slaughter, and Ogier secured the steed 

 which he had coveted so much. And when he 

 mounted the handsome creature and rode be- 

 tween the tents where flew the banners of Charle- 



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