234 THE WONDER-BOOK OF HORSES 



of our family ! " With these words the hot-heade3 

 youth gave the Hindoo a blow that sent him reel- 

 ing against the wall. Then, mounting the horse, 

 the prince twisted the peg which was half con- 

 cealed in its mane, and the creature carried him 

 swiftly up into the air and was soon sailing away 

 to the southward. 



The unfortunate Hindoo was filled with alarm 

 for the safety, no less of the horse than of the 

 foolish Firouz Schah. He threw himself at the 

 feet of the king and prayed that no blame should 

 be imputed to him for any accident that might 

 befall the prince. 



" He knows nothing about the machine, not 

 even how to bring it to the earth again," he cried. 

 " If he should lose his life through his own rash- 

 ness, I beg that I may not be held accountable." 



It was some time before the king could fully 

 realize what had happened, for he was naturally 

 rather slow of comprehension. When, however, 

 he was made to understand that there was no way 

 of overtaking the horse or of aiding the prince, he 

 was beside himself with grief and rage. He com- 

 manded his attendants to seize the trembling Hin- 

 doo and to cast him into prison ; and he declared 

 that if his son, Firouz Schah, did not return 



