If this is ever the case, I hope we may all be living to see it.

[Illustration:  Driven out to sea]

THE HORSE OF ARABIA.

The Arabian horse has long been celebrated as the most valuable of his race.  He is considered an aristocrat among horses, and only those steeds which can trace their descent from Arabian ancestors have the right to be called “thorough-bred.”

Occasionally an Arabian horse is brought to this country, but we do not often see them.  In fact, they would not be as valuable here as those horses which, besides Arabian descent, have also other characteristics which especially adapt them to our country and climate.

In Arabia the horse, as an individual, especially if he happens to be of the purest breed, is more highly prized than in any other part of the world.  It is almost impossible to buy a favorite horse from an Arab, and even if he can be induced to sell it, the transaction is a very complicated one.  In the first place, all the relations and allies of the owner must give their consent, for the parting with a horse to a stranger is a very important matter with them.  The buyer must then make himself sure that the whole of the horse belongs to the man who is selling him, for the Arabs, when they wish to raise money, very often do so by selling to a member of their tribe a fore-leg, a hind-leg, or an ear, of one of their horses; and in this case, the person who is a part owner of the animal must have his proportionate share of all profits which may arise from its sale or use.  This practice is very much like our method of mortgaging our lands.

When the horse is finally bought and paid for, it had better be taken away as soon as possible, for the Arabs—­even those who have no interest whatever in the sale—­cannot endure to see a horse which once belonged to their tribe passing into the hands of strangers.  And therefore, in order to soothe their wounded sensibilities, they often steal the animal, if they can get a chance, before the buyer carries him out of their reach.

[Illustration:  Arabian horse.]

The Arabian horse is generally much more intelligent and docile than those of our country.  But this is not altogether on account of his good blood.  The Arab makes a friend and companion of his horse.  The animal so constantly associates with man, is talked to so much, and treated so kindly, that he sometimes shows the most surprising intelligence.  He will follow his master like a dog; come at his call; stand anywhere without moving, until his master returns to him; stop instantly if his rider falls from his back, and wait until he mounts again; and it has been said that an Arabian horse has been known to pick up his wounded master from the field of battle, and by fastening his teeth in the man’s clothes, to carry him to a place of safety.