BROIEFORT, THE BLACK ARABIAN 1 69 



still alive, and was used as a draft-horse by the 

 monks of the abbey. Ten squires were sent out 

 at once to bring the old horse to his master. 



Ogier wept when he saw the sad plight of his 

 once beautiful war steed, and Broiefort would 

 have done the same had it been possible for horses' 

 to weep, so great was his joy. As it was, the fire 

 came back into his eyes; he lifted his head with 

 somewhat of the old-time pride; he scratched his 

 feet with delight; he fondled his master with his 

 jet-black nose, and whinnied softly, as though he 

 wanted to speak. Ogier put his arm over him, 

 and leaned with his whole weight. The horse 

 stood up bravely, and shrank not in the least be- 

 neath him. Then the grooms washed the steed 

 in warm spring water, and combed and oiled his 

 mane and tail, and trimmed his fetlocks, and pol- 

 ished his hoofs, and covered him with a richly 

 embroidered cloth, and put the golden bits in his 

 mouth. You would not have known him as the 

 draft-horse that had hauled stones for the ab- 

 bot of Meaux — he was the Broiefort who fought 

 in the famous battle of St. Ajossa. Brave Ogier 

 wept again, but this time for joy, when he 

 mounted the grand old steed and rode forth to 

 give battle to the pagan invaders. 



