Year: 1866

1t is related that when Mirax Serraf was
director of the stud TO the Sultan Murad.
one of the brood mares that pastured upon
the banks of the river Oxus gave birth to a
foal of somewhat mysterious pedigree. The
paternity of this little stranger was traced to
a mystic horse of magnificent points, which
came up one morning from the depths of
the river, and, having remained for short
time in the pastures, plunged again into the
dark water, and was seen no more bv mortal
eye.


Mirza-Serraf predicted a brilliant career
for this colt, on account of its supernatura
origin. He had it nurtured with great care
In the paddocks of the Sultan, but was
grievously disappointed at the figure cut by
it up to the age of three years. 1t was, in
fact, very Indifferent specimen of blood
colt, having long legs, a large head, and a
coat as bristly and coarse as that of a wild
boar. Once or twice Mira thought of civ.
ing 1t away, but spell was over him about
the creature, and he placed it in the stables
among the prime stock


One day the Sultan visited the stables to
see what acquisition had been made to his
stud of horses. With some of the colts that
were shown for his inspection be expressed
himself satisfied; but when the ugly son of
the mysterious horse of the Oxus was led
forth, he could not restrain his anger
Calling for Mira Serraf, he asked him how
he dared maintain SO ill-looking monster
in his establishment and when the unhap.
Ply master of the horse tried to excuse him.
self, the Sultan, who was choleric prince,
ordered that his eyes should be burned out
with red-hot iron, a sentence which was
carried into immediate execution.


While Mirza-Serraf lay in pain and dark
ness, bis son Roushan came to him. and
strove to assuage his agony with words of
comfort, to whom said Mirza


Go, my son, to the Sultan. and saw unto
him My father is old now, and by your
sentence blindness has fallen upon him
lie needs horse to carry him in his old ce
Present him, then, with the ugly colt that
you have ordered to be expelled from YOUR
stables"


The son obeyed the behest of his hapless
parent. He rendered himself humble before
the Sultan, who, having by this time got
over his rage about the ugly colt. presented
the animal to the young man. who led him
Joyfully away BY the advice of his father,
who had superstitious presentiment about
the colt, he now dug cavern deep into the
earth, and in this cavern the animal was to
be stabbed during forty days. By that
time, said old Mira, who was an excellent
the colt will have grown wings
but it will be necessary that the light of day
be completely excluded from his stable. or
else is the spell broken. Unfortunately. a
ray of sunshine found its way through some
crevice in the cavern, and the expected
wings failed to make their appearance.
ltut r,1l 1oI
son by saying


Lament not, my sor, for the failure of
the wings. Wing, or no wing, you have a
horse SO swift that none other in the world
can ever gain the edge of the dust cloud
raised by him when he careers over the
desert"


By and by change came over the i'll
favored colt. In his fourth year he develop
ed into horse OF wonderful symmetry and
perfection of points. Meantime Roushan
had attained to great excellence in horse
manshlp and the use of weapons. Mounted
upon his now glossy coated steed, on whom
he bestowed the name of Kyrat, or "nut.
brown" he would perform feats that aston.
lshed the experienced riders of the DESERT
Vengeance had long been fostering in his
heart, and the time had come for him to
strike


The Sultan was hunting on the banks of
the Oxrs when Roushan, clad in full armor.
and mounted upon Kyrat, made his appear
ance. Struck with the extreme beauty of
the horse, as well as by the noble bearing
OF his rider, the prince invited the latter to
approach, in order that he might converse
with him but the reply of Roushan was:
20, Sultan: you fancy yourself great
Judge OF horsefesh, believe; but here now
In this steed so much admired bv YOU. be.
hold the ugly colt expelled by you ignomini.
ously from your stables"


With these words be dashed like liohtn;nc
IN among the attendants of the Sultan. and
cutting the latter down with his scimetar
put out his eyes before hand could be lift
ed to save him then he gave the rens to
kyrat who speedily bore him away on the
wings OF the wind, far beyond the reach Of
danger. "


In course of time Roushan gathered war.
riors round him in far country. He bn;lt
the fortress OF Shamel Biel, and his fame
spread far and wide as the great cb;efto;n
who owned the mysterious courser Kvrat


Ihere was certain tribe in those narts
OF which the chief, Hassan-Pasha yas
great connolsseur IN horses NOTHING care
MN greater uneasiness than to hear that onv
neighboring chief had acquired a horse of
especial beauty and speed nor would be roSt
until he had obtained possession of sncb q
treasure, either by strategem or for cold "


VISITING his stables one day. Hassan said
to his vlzIer; T" Lives there a king on the
surface OF the globe whose horses can com.
pare with mine ~ 0"" oon'-


" Generally speaking. o pasba y. ro,I;oa
the vizler," :" should say that such 4 mon
arch wouldn't be easy to find, but it is we'll
known that that redoubtable young man
Roushan, of Shamel-Biel, rides a nut. brown
eourseg called hyrat, than whom the falcon
is not feeter in skimming over the nla;n -
1t report speaks truly, the like Of this
kyrat has never before been under saddle y


Vizer," said the Pasha. g it Is ahsoi,to.
ly necessary for me to obtain possession Of
that treasure. But how is it to be done p
Speak"


8 Not easy to say" rejoined the vizier =
= Roushan wants not for money. and as to