Chapter 8 Summary

Agba nervously measures Sham and compares him to the other horses he has measured. Agba prays that Signor Achmet will choose Sham as one of the horses that are fit to be presented to the King of France. As Agba is measuring Sham, Signor Achmet walks in and announces that Sham has been chosen, because he measures well and has a long neck that stretches while running.

Agba counts down the final week before their departure and is busy getting everything ready for the long journey. Agba trains Sham to run longer to prepare him for the journey. Sham gets fitted for horseshoes. On the last day in the palace, Agba packs all of the things he will need to care for Sham on the journey such as the rub-rag made of camel hair and the leather vessel for water. Agba barely sleeps...