Now, Son of the Sand, we will test these nags of which you sing so loud a song.

Away, and let the ride be fast and far!" "On your head be it then, daughter," answered the old Arab.
"Pray Allah that these Franks can sit a horse!" Then his sombre eyes seemed to take fire, and gripping the encircling saddle girth, he uttered some word of command, at which the stallions threw up their heads and began to move at a long, swinging gallop towards the mountains a mile away.

At first they went over cultivated land off which the crops had been already cut, taking two or three ditches and a low wall in their stride so smoothly that the brethren felt as though they were seated upon swallows.

Then came a space of sandy sward, half a mile or more, where their pace quickened, after which they began to breast the long slope of a hill, picking their way amongst its stones like cats.
Ever steeper it grew, till in places it was so sheer that Godwin must clutch the mane of Flame, and Masouda must cling close to Godwin's middle to save themselves from slipping off behind.

Yet, notwithstanding the double weights they bore, those gallant steeds never seemed to falter or to tire.