seen; in fact, differing from any animal ever before described. It had a human face, but the cheeks of a horse; its eyes were like jacinths and radiant as the stars. It had eagle's wings, all glittering with rays of light; and its whole form was resplendent with gems and precious stones. From its dazzling splendor and incredible velocity it was called Al Borak, or Lightning.

Mahomet prepared to mount this supernatural steed, but as he extended his hand, it drew back and reared.

"Be still, O Borak!" said Gabriel. "Respect the prophet of God. Never wert thou mounted by mortal man more honored of Allah!" . . .

No sooner had he uttered these words than the animal approached and submitted to be mounted. Then, with Mahomet upon its back, it soared aloft far above the mountains of Mecca.

As they passed like lightning between heaven and earth, Gabriel cried aloud, "Stop, O Mahomet ! Descend to the earth, and make the prayer with two inflections of the body."

They alighted on the earth, and having made the prayer, "O friend and well beloved of my soul," said Mahomet, "why didst thou command to pray in this place?"

"Because it is Mount Sinai, where God communed with Moses."

Mounting aloft, they again passed rapidly between heaven and earth, until Gabriel called out a second

time, "Stop, O Mahomet! Descend, and make the prayer with two inflections."

They descended.

Mahomet prayed again, and

again demanded, "Why didst thou command me to pray in this place?"

"Because it is Bethlehem, where the son of Mary was born."

They resumed their course through the air, . and at length arrived at the gate of the holy temple at Jerusalem. There, alighting from Al Borak, Mahomet fastened her to the rings where the prophets that were before him had also fastened her. Then, entering the temple, he found Abraham and Moses and Isa (Jesus) and many more of the prophets.

After he had prayed in company with these for a time, a ladder of light was let down from heaven until the lower end rested on the foundation stone of the sacred house, it being the stone of Jacob. Aided by the angel Gabriel, Mahomet ascended this ladder with the rapidity of lightning.

Being arrived at the first heaven, Gabriel knocked at the gate.

"Who is there?" was demanded from within. "Gabriel."

"Who is with thee?"

"Mahomet."

"Has he received his mission?"

"He has."

"Then he is welcome!"

And the gate was opened.

[Thus, in company with his angelic guide, Mahomet visited successively each of the seven heavens, communing with many of the saints and prophets, and even with Allah himself.]

Then, finally, by the ladder of light he descended to the temple of Jerusalem, where he found Borak fastened as he had left her. He mounted her, and was borne back in an instant to the place whence he had first started. The entire journey, some say, was miraculously effected in so short a space of time that Mahomet, on his return, was able to prevent the complete overturn of a vase of water, which the angel Gabriel had struck with his wing on his departure.. Traditions say, that when Mahomet narrated his nocturnal journey to a large assembly in Mecca, many marveled, yet believed. Some were perplexed with doubt, but the Koreishites laughed it to scorn. "Thou sayest that thou hast been to the temple at Jerusalem," said Abu Jahl; "prove the truth of thy words by giving a description of it."

For a moment Mahomet was embarrassed by the demand, for he had visited the temple in the night, when its form was not discernible. Suddenly, however, the angel Gabriel stood by his side, and placed before his eyes an exact type of the sacred edifice, so that he was enabled instantly to answer the most minute questions.

- Abridged from the "Life of Mahomet," by Washington Irving.

N the days when heroes lived in the land, there

IN

ruled in Zaboulistan a mighty Pehliva whose name was Zal. Now after Zal had governed his people wisely and well for more than a hundred years, faithfully serving his master the Shah of Iran, there arose enemies from abroad who sought to invade his country and overturn the throne of the Shahs. And all the men of Iran were sore afraid, and they turned to the Pehliva for counsel and aid. He listened kindly to their complaints and then answered them in words that were fitting and wise.

"My children," he said, "I have ever done for you those things that were helpful to you and right, and all of my life I have feared no enemy save old age. But now that enemy is upon me, and I charge you to look unto my young son Rustem, who will lead you and deliver you from fear."

Then he called before him his son, who was yet of tender age, and said unto him:

"O my son, thy lips still smell of milk, and thy young heart should know naught but pleasure. But enemies besiege us and these are days of danger; and I must send thee forth to cope with heroes.'

And the boy Rustem answered and said, "O my father, thou knowest that I care naught for play and pleasure, but that my desires are for deeds of valor and the perils of war. Give me therefore a steed of strength and the mace of my grandfather, and send me forth to do battle with the enemies of Iran."

And the heart of the mighty Zal laughed within him when he heard these words so unusual from the lips of a boy. He at once commanded that all the best herds of horses in Zaboulistan and Cabul be brought before his son, that he might choose from among them a steed of battle.

And the horses were passed in order before Rustem, and upon the back of each he laid his hand of might to test if they could bear his weight of valor. And every horse shuddered beneath his grasp, and sank upon its haunches in weakness. And thus did