BROIEFORT, THE BLACK ARABIAN 1 57 



III. THE FLIGHT 



Late in the evening, Ogier, wearied with the long 

 ride and overcome by the pain of his wounds, 

 thought that it would be safe for them to stop 

 and rest. He dismounted near a spring of water 

 which gurgled out from beneath a huge rock, 

 and, after slaking his thirst, he bathed his hot 

 head in the stream, and washed the smoking sides 

 and mud-bespattered legs of his steed. Then, 

 sitting on the ground with his back resting 

 against the rock, he soon fell asleep; but Broie- 

 fort stood by him to watch. 



Half an hour passed quietly, and then a faint 

 sound was heard far down the road. The horse 

 pricked up his ears and listened. Very soon he 

 could distinguish quite plainly the thump, thump 

 of galloping hoofs coming closer every moment, 

 and he knew that it meant danger. He whinnied 

 to awaken his master; but Ogier slept on. He 

 came closer to him, and stamped his feet against 

 the rock; Ogier stirred a little, but did not waken. 

 Then he stamped still harder, and neighed shrilly 

 three times; but his master, dreaming of battle, 

 did not hear him. By this time their pursuers 



