THE STORY OF AN ARABIAN HORSE
There lived once in Arabia a horse so noted for its great beauty that its fame spread throughout the country.
When the ruler of the country heard of this wonderful creature, he was filled with a desire to possess him; so he sent for Hamidu, the owner of the horse.
“I am told that you have the most beautiful horse in all Arabia,” he said to Hamidu. “It is only fitting that he should belong to the ruler of this country, which is the home of the most perfect horses in all the world.”
Poor Hamidu cast himself at the ruler’s feet and spoke in trembling tones.
“Great ruler,” he implored, “spare my horse to me. I love him better than my life. I raised him from a baby. Never a day has passed since he was born that I have not caressed him. He follows me about as would a dog. At night I sleep beside him. He would grieve so that he would die if we were separated; and so would Hamidu.”
This speech angered the ruler greatly, and calling some of his soldiers, he ordered them to go with Hamidu to his home and return with the horse to the palace.
It was a two days’ journey to Hamidu’s home. When the horse saw his master coming, he broke his halter and ran to meet him with every sign of deep affection.
The ruler’s soldiers admired the horse greatly, and bade Hamidu mount him and ride back to the palace with them.
When they stopped for the night they bound Hamidu, hands and feet, and laid him down on a hillock.
The horse they fastened securely to a tree. Then going to a spot a short distance away, they lay down to sleep.
Hamidu lay still and helpless, watching the bright stars as they blinked and twinkled overhead. He tried to loose the bonds that held his hands, but they were too strong for him.
“Alas,” he thought, “not only shall I lose my beloved horse but also my life, I fear.”
He could hear the heavy breathing of the sleeping soldiers. Everything else was quiet.
Suddenly, his ear caught the sound of gentle footsteps.
“I could almost believe it to be my beloved Beauty,” he thought, “if that were not impossible.”
But it was Beauty, whose soft nose came feeling over Hamidu! and it was Beauty’s teeth which grasped his girdle and lifted him from the ground.
Swift as a deer, the horse bore Hamidu on and on back to his home.
There a friend loosed his bonds and gave him and the horse food and drink.
Then Hamidu mounted Beauty and rode away, away, away into the distant hills of another country. And never did the ruler’s men find either Hamidu or the horse that gnawed loose his own fetters and saved his master’s life.
QUESTIONS
Have you ever seen a picture of an Arabian horse?
Are they large?
Why did the horse love his master so much?
