84 THE HORSE 



told by Agba, Scham was greatly feared in the 

 stables, and when he came thus loose into the yard 

 both grooms deserted their horses and fled. Hob- 

 goblin, however, was more brave ; he at once chal- 

 lenged the intruder and in a moment the fight 

 was on. 



Not to go into the details of the encounter, it 

 is sufficient to say that Scham, although much 

 smaller, thrashed the big stallion, thrashed him 

 thoroughly and well, thrashed him till he fled the 

 yard, leaving Roxana, who, meanwhile, had been 

 standing quietly by, quite as if awaiting the result 

 of the combat. And if Scham did not realize at 

 first the full extent of his victory, we may be sure 

 that Agba did. For the horse had triumphed 

 both in love and war. 



Word of what had taken place was sent to 

 Lord Godolphin, but it was too late, as Roxana 

 was now in foal to Scham. In due season she pro- 

 duced a colt who was named Lath. Lord Godol- 

 phin's views now began to change, for, as Lath 

 grew and developed, he proved much superior to 

 any of the get of Hobgoblin ; and when, as a two- 

 year-old, he easily beat them all, as well as several 

 other of the best youngsters in England, the value 

 of his sire was established. 



The Godolphin Arabian, as Scham was called, 

 now became the most famous sire in England — 



