him and tried to capture him with their lassoes. The noble horse
fought them manfully, killing two of them with the blows of his forefeet
and biting the head from the shoulders of another. But the ropes from
the lassoes became tangled with his legs, and even the marvelous Raksh
was at last thrown, overpowered and led struggling away.

When Rustem awoke his first thought was for his horse, but though he
looked everywhere the faithful animal was not in sight. Such a thing had
never happened before, and Rustem grew pale with sorrow and dread.

"What can I do without my noble charger?" he said. "How can I carry my
arrows, club and other weapons? How can I defend myself? Moreover, I
shall be the laughingstock of friends and enemies alike, for all will
say that in my carelessness I slept and allowed my horse to be stolen."

At last he discovered the tracks of Raksh in the dust of the plain, and
following them with difficulty he found himself at the town of Samengan.
The king and nobles of the town knew Rustem, but seemed surprised to see
him come walking. The wanderer explained what had happened, and the wily
monarch answered, "Have no fear, noble Rustem. Every one knows your
wonderful horse Raksh, and soon some one will come and bring him to you.
I will even send many men to search for him. In the meantime, rest with
us and be happy. We will entertain you with the best, and in pleasure
you will forget your loss till Raksh is returned to you."

This plan pleased Rustem, and the king kept his word in royal
entertainments in which he served his guest with grave humility.
Moreover, the princess Tehmina likewise served Rustem with becoming
grace and dignity. No maiden was ever more beautiful. She was tall as
the cypress and as graceful as a gazelle. Her neck and shoulders were
like ivory; her hair, black and shiny as a raven's wings, hung in two
long braids down her back, as the Persian horseman loops his lasso to
his saddle bow; her lips were like twin rubies, and her black brilliant
eyes glanced from highly-arched eye-brows.

Rustem fell deeply in love with the fair maiden as soon as he saw her,
and at the first opportunity told her of his affection. Tehmina then
confessed that she had long loved Rustem from the reports she had heard
of his noble character and deeds of great prowess. The capture of Raksh
was a part of her plan for meeting the owner, for she felt sure he would
follow the animal's track to her father's capital