is spear. When he had almost given up all hope, he saw
a well-nourished ram pass by. "Where," said he to himself, "is the
reservoir from which this creature drinks?" Accordingly he followed
the ram's footsteps, holding his horse's bridle in one hand and his
sword in the other, and the ram led him to a spring. Then Rustem
lifted up his eyes to heaven and thanked God for his mercies;
afterwards he blessed the ram, saying, "No harm come to thee forever!
May the grass of the valleys and the desert be always green for thee,
and may the bow of him that would hunt thee be broken, for thou hast
saved Rustem; verily, without thee he would have been torn to pieces
by the wild beasts of the desert."

After this he caught another wild ass, and roasted him for his meal.
Then having bathed in the spring, he lay down to sleep; but before
he lay down, he said to Raksh, his horse: "Do not seek quarrel or
friendship with any. If an enemy come, run to me; and do not fight
either with Genius or lion."

After this he slept; and Raksh now grazed, and now galloped over the
plain.

Now it so happened that there was a great dragon that had its bed in
this part of the desert. So mighty a beast was it, that not even a
Genius had dared to pass by that way. The dragon was astonished to see
a man asleep and a horse by his side, and began to make its way to
the horse. Raksh did as he had been bidden, and running towards his
master, stamped with his feet upon the ground. Rustem awoke, and
seeing nothing when he looked about him--for the dragon meanwhile had
disappeared--was not a little angry. He rebuked Raksh, and went to
sleep again. Then the dragon came once more out of the darkness, and
the horse ran with all speed to his master, tearing up the ground and
kicking. A second time the sleeper awoke, but as he saw nothing but
darkness round him, he was greatly enraged, and said to his faithful
horse:

"Why do you disturb me? If it wearies you to see me asleep, yet you
cannot bring the night to an end. I said that if a lion came to attack
you, I would protect you; but I did not tell you to trouble me in this
way. Verily, if you make such a noise again, I will cut off your head
and go on foot, carrying all my arms and armor with me to Mazanderan."

A third time Rustem slept, and a third time the dragon came. This
time Raksh, who did not venture to come near his master, fled over the
plain; he was equally afraid of the dragon and of Rustem. Still h