the Enchanted Horse oh. 3

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should convince him; and that he was ready to see him perform
what he promised.

The Indian immediately put his foot into the stirrup, and
mounted his horse with activity; and when he had got the other
foot into the stirrup, and had fixed himself in the saddle, he asked
the King of Persia where he was pleased to send him.

About three leagues from Schiraz there was a high mountain
visible from the large square before the palace, where the king
and his court, and a great concourse of people, then were.

‘Do you see that mountain?’ said the king, pointing to the
hill: ‘Go to it; it is not a great way off, but it is far enough
for me to judge of the haste you can make in going and coming.
But because it is not possible for the eye to follow you so far,
for a certain sign that you have been there I expect you to bring
me a branch of a palm tree that grows at the bottom of the hill.

The King of Persia had no sooner declared his will, than the
Indian turned a peg which was in the hollow of the horse’s neck
just by the pummel of the saddle: and in an instant the horse
rose off the ground and carried his rider into the air like lightning,
to such a height that those who had the strongest sight could
not discern him, to the wonder of the king and all the spectators.
In less than a quarter of an hour they saw him come back with
a palm branch in his hand: but, before he came quite down,
he took two or three turns in the air, amid the acclamations
of all the people: then descended upon the same spot of ground
whence he had set off, without receiving the least shock
from the horse to disorder him. He dismounted; and, going up
to the throne, prostrated himself, and laid the branch of the palm
tree at the king's feet.

The King of Persia, who was an eye-witness, with admiration
and astonishment, of this unheard-of feat which the Indian had
exhibited, conceived a great desire to have the horse, and persuaded

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