Summer of the beautiful white horse Snapshot Class XI CBSE Literature Q Ans

                       Summer of the beautiful white horse

To which tribe did Aram and Mourad belong? What was particular about their tribe?

Aram and Mourad belonged to the Garoghlanian tribe. The tribe was well known for its honesty and trust. The people belonging to the tribe are neither liars nor thieves.                                                             

Why and when did Mourad take John Byro’s horse?

Mourad was known for a crazy streak in his character. He was fond of horse riding. But he belonged to a poor family, He could never afford to realise his long cherished dream of riding a horse. So one day he ‘stole’ John Byro’s horse. He kept it in his custody  at least a month before he disclosed it to Aram.

Why did Mourad bring the beautiful white horse to Aram?

Mourad brought this horse to Aram, his cousin brother. He knew quite well that Aram was equally fond of riding a horse. Mourad himself had been enjoying joy-rides on the wonderful white horse for a month’s time. Now he wanted his cousin brother to enjoy the same.

 “I couldn’t believe what I saw,” says the narrator. What was so unbelievable? Why?

The narrator saw his cousin Mourad sitting on a beautiful white horse. It was unbelievable, for they belonged to poor families and buying such a beautiful horse was beyond their means.

“We had been famous for our honesty for something like eleven centuries,” the narrator describes his family in these words. Do you think it is possible to remain honest in modern times?

Yes. It is possible to be honest in modern times too as seen in the story. Mourad and Aram were honest too. Mourad took the horse because he loved to ride but could not afford to buy one – he had all the intention of returning the horse. There are many examples of honest behaviour – Gandhiji inspired truthfulness by his example Satyameva Jayate (Truth alone triumphs) was adopted as national motto of India on 26th January, 1950.

Even today, honest people such as Anna Hazare are ready to fast unto death for upholding honesty. Many such activists have put their lives at stake to fight for and uphold truth. Some of them have even laid down their lives. Young people are very idealistic and wish to eliminate corruption and dishonesty. Unfortunately many among us find it difficult to follow the future gains at the cost of present-day hardships and therefore, we tend to choose the easy way out. But truth is like a bitter pill that actually is good for our health in the long run.

Mourad said, “I have a way with a horse”. Do you agree? Give a justified answer.

Yes, we agree that Mourad had a way with a horse. When John Byro got the horse back, he found the horse better tempered because Mourad was good at dealing with a wild white horse. The horse wanted to run wild in the beginning but Mourad felt he could make the horse do anything he wanted.

Which conflicting thoughts passed through the narrator’s mind on seeing Mourad on a beautiful white horse early in the  morning?

The narrator was surprised. He knew that his cousin Mourad couldn’t have bought the horse. Since he couldn’t have bought it, he must have stolen it. However, family pride came in the way. He refused to believe that he had stolen it.

“It was true, then. He had stolen the horse. There was no question about  it. He had come to invite me to ride or not, as I chose.” How did the narrator convince himself to enjoy a horse ride with cousin Mourad?

It seemed to him that stealing a horse for a ride was not the same thing as stealing something else, such as money. Since he and Mourad were quite crazy about horses, it wasn’t stealing. He convinced himself with the thought that it would become stealing only when they offered to sell it.

How can you say that  cousin Mourad was considered one of the craziest members of the narrator’s family?

Cousin Mourad had a crazy streak. He was quite crazy about horses. He kept the stolen white horse for about six weeks, rode it, loved it, fed it well and hid it in a deserted yard. When he sang in the open countryside, it seemed as if he were roaring.

Describe John Byro’s meeting with his horse and the two boys. What was his reaction?

One morning, on the way to Fetvajian’s deserted vineyard, where they would hide the white horse during the day, the boys met John Byro who was on his way to town. They wished each other and the farmer studied the horse eagerly. He asked the boys the name of the horse. Mourad said it was called ‘My Heart’ in Armenian. John Byro said that he could swear it was his horse that was stolen many weeks ago.

The farmer then looked into the mouth of the horse. He was even more certain that the horse was a replica of his. He said, had he not known their family’s fame for honesty, he would have claimed the horse to be his. He believed Mourad when he suggested that the horse was the twin of John Byro’s horse. The next morning, the boys took the horse to John Byro’s vineyard and put it in the barn.

 Which characteristic features of uncle Khosrove  are highlighted?

Cousin Mourad seemed to inherit the crazy streak of uncle Khosrove. He was a big man with a powerful head of black hair and a very large mustache. He was quite furious in temper, very irritable and impatient. He would stop anyone from taking by roaring his pet phrase, “It is no harm; pay no attention to it”.

Give an example to illustrate how uncle Khosrove’s eccentricities are ruminated upon?

Once uncle Khosrove was getting his mustache trimmed in a barber’s shop. Suddenly their house was on fire. His own son Arak ran eight blocks to the barber’s shop to inform him. Khosrove got impatient and roared at his son. When the barber reminded him that his house was on fire, Khosrove roared at him and stopped him from talking.

How did Aram, the narrator, perform during  his solo ride?

Aram leaped to the back of the horse, but it did not move. Then he kicked into the muscles of the horse. It reared and snorted. Then it began to run. Aram did not know how to ride. The horse ran down the road to a vineyard. It leaped over seven vines, threw the rider and ran away.

“We’ll either take him back or hide him until tomorrow morning”. Which course of action did the speaker take and why?

Mourad took the latter option. He hid the horse in the barn of a deserted vineyard which at one time had been the pride of a farmer named Fetvajian. There were some oats and dry alfalfa in the barn. So Mourad did not seem worried about the horse.

How did uncle Khosrove react to John Byro’s complaint about the theft of his horse?

John Byro was sad that his white horse had been stolen last month and it was missing even then. Instead of showing any sympathy, uncle Khosrove became very irritated and shouted: “It’s no harm. What is the loss of a horse?… What is this crying over a horse?”

Why did farmer John Byro talk of the horse, and eventually get frustrated by the uncle?

Farmer John Byro visited the narrator’s house. He was homesick, sad and lonely. His horse had been stolen for over a month. Instead of showing any sympathy or concern for his loss, uncle Khosrove repeated his catchword: “It’s no harm. Pay no attention to it”. When John Byro talked about the cost of horses, uncle Khosrove commented: “I spit on money.” This was too much for John Byro to bear and so he left the house in disgust.

How did Mourad help the wounded Robin to fly? What does this incident indicate?

The narrator noticed Mourad trying to cure the hint wing of a young robin which could not fly. He was talking to the bird. After some time, he threw the bird into the air. The bird tried hard and almost fell twice. However, at last it flew away, high and straight. This incident shows that in spite of having a crazy streak, Mourad was kind at heart and gentle towards God’s creatures.

What request did the narrator make to his cousin Mourad about the horse? How did he react to it? What does this reveal?

The narrator requested his cousin Mourad not to return the horse to farmer John Byro till he learnt to ride. Mourad observed that it might take him a year. The narrator suggested to keep the horse for a year. Mourad shouted that he was inciting him to steal. He declared that the horse must go back to its true owner. This shows his honesty and sense of family pride.

What did farmer John Byro observe after studying the horse the two boys had with them?

The farmer studied the horse eagerly and asked its name. Mourad said that they called it “My Heart’. John Byro appreciated it as a lovely name for a lovely horse. He was ready to swear that it was the horse that was stolen from him many weeks ago.

“A suspicious man would believe his eyes instead of his heart.” In what context was this observation made and by whom?

This observation was made by farmer John Byro after looking into the mouth of the horse. It matched his horse tooth for tooth. He would have claimed it as his own horse if he had not known their parents or the fame of their family for honesty. The resemblance was so striking that he called it the twin of his horse.

“This was the part that wouldn’t permit me to believe what I saw.” What ‘part’ does the narrator hint at?

The narrator refers to their poverty. They had no money. They lived in extreme poverty and it was difficult to understand how they got food to satisfy their hunger. He frankly admits that every branch of the Garoghlanian family was living in the most amazing and comical poverty in the world. 

Why did the boys return the horse to its owner?

The boys were impressed by John Byro’s attitude towards their parents and family. He knew their parents very well and so believed whatever the boys said. Secondly, the fame of their family for honesty was well-known to him. The boys returned the horse to him for the sake of family pride and dignity.

Mention a few humorous incidents.

The incidents related to uncle Khosrove are quite amusing. The repetition of his pet catchword: “It is no harm; pay no attention to it” causes humour whenever it is used in an incongruous context. For example, his own son Arak ran eight blocks to the barber shop where Khosrove was having his mustache trimmed to tell him that their house was on fire. This was a serious matter. Instead of leaving the place, he roared: “It is no harm; pay no attention to it.”

When the barber explained that his son was saying that his house was on fire, Khosrove silenced him by roaring: “It is no harm”. At the end of the story, uncle Khosrove again became irritated and shouted at farmer John Byro to be quiet. He said, “Your horse has been returned. Pay no attention to it.” The incongruity is obvious. The most amusing incident is the conversation between farmer John Byro and uncle Khosrove when the farmer sighed sadly and bewailed the stealth of his horse.

Uncle Khosrove remarked, “It is no harm. What is the loss of a horse? What is this crying over a horse?” John Byro tried to explain that his surrey was useless without a horse. Pat came Khosrove’s catchphrase “Pay no attention to it.” This phrase is repeated when the farmer complained that his left leg hurt him. When John Byro said that the horse had cost him sixty dollars, Khosrove remarked, “I spit on money.” The incident ends as John Byro walked out angrily slamming the screen door.

Draw a character sketch  of cousin Mourad?

Mourad is a young boy of thirteen. He belongs to the Garoghlanian family of Armenia. Their whole tribe was poverty stricken. In spite of abject poverty, their family was famous for honesty. Mourad was quite adventurous and had a crazy streak in him. He enjoyed being alive more than anybody else. Mourad loved horse riding. He had a way with a horse. He had tamed the horse by his affectionate behaviour and now the horse was no longer wild.

It obeyed Mourad faithfully. His love for the horse is evident in the last scene. While parting, he put his arms around the horse, pressed his nose into the horse’s nose and patted it. He also had a way with dogs. The dogs of John Byro followed them around without making a sound. He was kind. He treated a young robin which had hurt its wing. He was worldly-wise and knew how to talk to farmers. Though he loved horse-riding he was averse to keeping the horse for a long time. He is proud of his family which is well known for their honesty and trust. In short, he is a lovable chap.

Draw character  sketch  of Aram.

Aram plays an important role in the story. Besides being the narrator, he is also a commentator. He not only narrates the various adventures, incidents and actions, but also provides useful information regarding the main characters and their behaviour. In fact, he is the fulcrum on which the whole story rests. He gives a graphic description of the Garoghlanian tribe, its members, their traits and economic features.

Mom-ad’s father Zorab is described as a practical person, whereas Mourad and uncle Khosrove represent the crazy streak in the tribe. Abject poverty of the family does not diminish his pride in his family which is famous for honesty. He says, “No member of the Garoghlanian family could be a thief.” He makes a fine distinction between stealing a horse for a ride and stealing a horse to sell it off. He gives a fine description of the horse ride and countryside with its vineyards, orchards, irrigation ditches and country roads.

Compare and contrast uncle Khosrove and cousin Mourad.

Uncle Khosrove and cousin Mourad have one very important point in common— their craziness. Mourad was considered the natural descendant of uncle Khosrove in this respect. The second similarity is their dominating nature. Both use pet words and phrases and roar aloud to quieten the hearer. While uncle Khosrove says, “It is no harm; pay no attention to it,” Mourad boasts, “I have a way with horses/dogs/farmers.”

Khosrove shouts at his son Arak, the barber and farmer John Byro. The narrator is a patient listener to Mourad’s assertions. The difference lies in their age groups and physical build up. Uncle Khosrove, a middle aged person is an enormous man with a powerful head of black hair and a very large mustache. Mourad is an athletic young chap of thirteen. Khosrove is irritable, impatient and furious in temper. Mourad is reasonable in conversation.

“The distribution of the various kinds of spirit of our tribe had been from the beginning capricious and vagrant.” Explain rationally.

The Garoghlanian family had a crazy streak. Mourad was considered the natural descendant of uncle Khosrove as far as the crazy streak was concerned. Mourad’s father, Zorab, was practical and nothing else. But Mourad was his son only in flesh; in spirit, he was similar to uncle Khosrove.

Give a brief narration of Mourad’s joy ride.

Mourad kicked his heels into the horse and shouted, “Vazire run!” The horse stood on its hind legs, snorted, and ran forward at full speed. Mourad raced the horse across a field of dry grass to an irrigation ditch. He crossed the ditch on the horse. When he returned five minutes later he was dripping wet. 

How could Mourad manage to keep his ‘misdeed’ a ‘secret’?

Mourad would enjoy the joy-rides on the wonderful white horse only during the early morning hours. As soon as the day breaks, he would hide the horse in a deserted barn. There were some oats and dry alfalfa to satisfy the hunger of the horse.

How did the narrator come to know about the real owner of the horse? What was his reaction?

The narrator returned home, after enjoying a ride on the wonderful white horse. An Assyrian visitor named John Byro came to his home and sighing sadly told that his white horse was stolen for a month. Now the narrator realised the horse Mourad was . having those days, was actually Byro’s. He felt panicky and went to Mourad to disclose the news. But he requested him not to return the horse so early.

Why didn’t  the boys return the horse immediately?

The boys didn’t want to return the horse immediately as both wanted to learn how to ride a horse. Mourad told Aram that he would keep it for at least six months. But alas! Their wish couldn’t be fulfilled.

Why did the boys return the horse?

One morning the boys were taking the horse to its hiding place, after having a joy ride over it. They met John Byro, the real owner of the horse. John swore that the horse was the twin of his own one and some suspicious mind could take it to be his own as its teeth and everything were like those of his own one. At this the boys got panicky. Due to fear of disclosure of their dare deed, they put  the horse back in its place the next day at its real owner’s barn.

Who was John Byro? Why would he come to the narrator’s house?

John Byro was an Assyrian by birth. He was a farmer. But he had learnt to speak Armenian also due to loneliness. Perhaps he had settled down somewhere in Armenia ten miles away from the narrator's home. He had come to the narrator’s house to vent out his woes over the loss of his only horse. His horse was missing for a month.

What impression do you form about Khosrove?

Khosrove was an uncle to Mourad and Aram. He had acquired the special characteristic of the family i.e. the crazy streak. He was an enormous man with a powerful head of black hair. He had the largest mustache in the entire San Joaquin Valley. He was quite an irritable fellow who lost his temper quite easily if somebody cried over his loss. His most repeated words (in such a situation) were. It is no harm; pay no attention to it.”

‘I couldn’t believe what I saw.’ What was so incredible to the speaker? Who is the speaker here?

The protagonist of the story ‘Aram’ is the speaker here. One fine summer pre day-break, his cousin brother Mourad had come to invite him on a wonderful white horse. The horse didn’t belong to him. So it was incredible to the speaker where Mourad had got that horse, as he could not be a thief.

How can you say that the boys are not thieves?

According to the boys, the horse which actually belonged to John Byro had been taken away by them just to enjoy joy rides. It can’t be called a ‘theft’ until they offered to sell the horse.

Describe the boys joyride.

The boys i.e. Mourad and Aram belonged to the Garoghlanian tribe whose hallmarks were trust and honesty. Mourad was regarded as a ‘crazy boy having acquired the ‘crazy streak’ of the family. One morning at about 4 a.m Mourad tapped on Aram’s window, waking him up. Aram peeped out of the window. He was surprised to see, wonderful white horse. He had come to invite him for a joy ride.

There was no time for Aram to think or care for the right or wrong. He just jumped out of the window, onto the horse, behind Mourad. They both had a round of the vineyards, orchards, irrigation ditches and country roads, all behind Aram’s house. Then they reached Olive Avenue. The air was new and lovely to breathe in the early morning. Mourad began to sing, being too crazy. They made the horse run, as long as it felt like running

Then Mourad alone had a ride. He shouted ‘Vazire’ run; and the horse once stood on its hind legs, snorted and burst into a fury of speed across a field of dry grass. Mourad returned after five minutes. He was dripping wet. Now the narrator wanted to ride alone. But the horse didn’t budge. At this, Mourad asked Aram to kick it into its muscles and the trick worked.

But Aram didn’t know how to reign the horse and it dropped him after leaping over vines. It ran away. It was only after half an hour, Mourad got it and brought it back. Then they both took it to Fetvajian’s deserted barn to hide. Mourad had a strange way of taming the horse. The horse seemed to obey him. Both returned to their homes. The narrator had a hearty breakfast that morning, as his long cherished dream of riding a horse had been fulfilled.

What does the writer suggest by beginning the story with the following words, “One day back there in the good old days…”?

The beginning of the story is suggestive of the fact that the story of Armenia that is going to be narrated is not one from the recent past. To the contrary, it is something that happened many years ago. The words ‘good old days’, suggest that the times in the past were better than what they are at present.

What does the writer say about the ‘good old days’?

The ‘good old days’ refer to a time when the narrator was about nine years old. Then, to him, the world was full of all possible kinds of excitement. Life then seemed charming and was as alluring as a mystifying dream.

What was the narrator’s first reaction to the horse?

When the narrator’s cousin, Mourad, came to his house at four in the morning and woke him up, Aram couldn’t believe what he saw. Mourad was riding a beautiful white horse. He stuck his head out of the window and rubbed his eyes to make sure that he wasn’t dreaming.

What were the chief traits of the members of the Gorghlanian family?

The narrator felt that although the people of his clan were poverty stricken, yet they were honest. They were proud, honest, and they believed in right and wrong. None of them would take advantage of anybody in the world, let alone steal.

Why was the narrator both delighted and frightened at the same time?

The narrator was delighted at the magnificence of the horse. He could smell it, hear it breathing, which excited him but what frightened him was that Mourad could not have bought the horse. The narrator realized, if he had not bought it, he must have stolen it.

How did the narrator establish that Mourad had stolen the horse?

When the initial fascination and surprise wore out, Aram asked Mourad where he had stolen the horse from. Aram was certain that no one in their family could afford one. When Mourad did not deny having stolen the horse, and evaded that question, Aram was sure that he had stolen the horse.

How did Aram justify the act of stealing the horse?

Aram felt that stealing a horse for a ride was not the same thing as stealing something else, such as money. Perhaps, it was not stealing at all because they were crazy about horses. He felt it would not be called stealing until they offered to sell the horse, which they would never do.

What was the problem the children faced after Aram’s unsuccessful horse riding?

After Aram had been thrown off, it took Mourad half an hour to find the horse and bring him back. The next concern was that they did not know where to hide the horse till the next day, and by then the people had woken up.

Where did the boys hide the horse for the night?

The boys walked the horse quietly to the barn of a deserted vineyard, which at one time had been the pride of the farmer named Fetvajian. There were some oats and dry alfalfa in the barn. It was there that they kept the horse.

Who was John Byro? What concern did he express at Aram’s place?

John Byro was an Assyrian farmer who, out of loneliness, had learned to speak Armenian. He was sad because his white horse, which was stolen a month back, was still not found. Byro had a surrey, a four-wheeled horse-drawn pleasure carriage having two or four seats which was of no use without a horse.

Mourad showed a special concern for animals. Justify.

Mourad not only had a special understanding with the horse but Aram saw Mourad, trying to nurse the hurt wing of a young robin which could not fly. He healed the bird and it took flight. The dogs, too, in John’s farm, did not bark when he went there to put back the horse.

What did John Byro mean when he said, “A suspicious man would believe his eyes instead of his heart”?

John Byro scrutinized the horse; it was an exact replica of the one he owned. He refused to believe that the two boys had taken his horse, as he knew their family was famed for honesty. So, even when his rational mind said that it was his horse, his heart refused to believe it.

What did John Byro mark about the horse after it was returned? Why?

After the horse was returned, John Byro said that the horse was stronger than ever and also better tempered. It was so because the children loved the horse and had taken good care of it. Moreover, it had exercised without the weight of the surrey.

Write your brief idea on the Garoghlanian family.

The Garoghlanian family was poor. In fact, the whole tribe was poverty-stricken. But the family was living in the most amazing and comical poverty in the world. Nobody could understand where they ever got money enough to feed them, not even the old men of the family. Most importantly, they had been famous for their honesty for around eleven centuries, even when they had been one of the wealthiest families in the world.

They were proud, honest, and believed in values such as right and wrong. None of them would take advantage of anybody in the world, let alone steal. The streak of ‘madness’ shared by the narrator’s Uncle Khusrove and cousin Mourad had been there in their tribe, from the beginning, unpredictable and unrestrained.

What did Aram feel about the ‘crazy streak’ in the family?

Aram felt that every family has a crazy element somewhere, and Mourad seemed to have inherited it from their Uncle Khosrove, a man so furious in temper, so irritable, so impatient that he stopped anyone from talking by roaring, “It is no harm; pay no attention to it.” That was all he said no matter what anybody happened to be talking about. Even when his own son Arak came running to the barber’s shop where he was having his mustache trimmed to tell him their house was on fire, Khosrove roared exactly the same thing. The barber repeated what the boy had said but Khosrove roared, “Enough, it is no harm, I say.” Mourad, though he was the son of Zorab, was the one who had inherited the streak of madness from Khusrove.

Describe the ride of Aram and Mourad when they went out together for the first time.

Mourad called out to the narrator who leaped onto the horse behind his cousin Mourad after a few moments of hesitation. On Olive Avenue, they let the horse run for as long as it felt like running. Mourad, then, went for a ride alone; he kicked his heels into the horse and shouted, “Vazire, run.” The horse stood on its hind legs, snorted, and burst into a fury of speed. Mourad raced the horse across a field of dry grass, across the irrigation ditch and five minutes later returned, dripping wet. He was not thrown out of its back indicating he was an expert rider.

When Aram leaped onto the horse for a ride, the horse did not move at first. Mourad told him to kick into his muscles. When Aram did so, the horse once again reared and snorted and began to run. But instead of running across the field to the irrigation ditch, the horse ran down the road to the vineyard of Dikran Halabian where it began to leap over vines. The horse leaped over seven vines and then Aram fell off.

Bring out the humour in Uncle Khosrove’s and John Byro’s meeting.

Uncle Khosrove would often visit Aram’s house over coffee and cigarettes. Many would join. Soon another visitor arrived, a farmer named John Byro. The farmer, while having his coffee and a cigarette, said with a sigh that his white horse which went missing since the previous month, was still untraceable. Uncle Khosrove became very annoyed and shouted that it was no harm since they had all lost their homeland. Hence, it was no use crying over a mere horse.

John Byro said that without a horse his carriage could not be put to use. “Pay no attention to it,” roared Uncle Khosrove. When John said that he had walked ten miles to get there, Uncle Khosrove shouted that he had legs. The farmer said that his left leg hurt but Uncle Khosrove roared again, “Pay no attention to it.” The farmer said that the horse cost him sixty dollars. Uncle Khosrove said, “I spit on money” and walked out of the house, slamming the door.

What traits of the Garoghlanian family are highlighted in this story?

The Garoghlanian family, though now poor, were famous for their honesty even when they were wealthy. They were proud of their family first, honest next and after that they believed in right and wrong. None of them would take advantage of anybody in the world. They would not steal. No member of the Garoghlanian family could be a thief.

How did the narrator react on seeing the horse and Mourad?

The horse was magnificent to look at, gave out a lovely smell and its breathing was quite exciting. Yet he couldn’t believe that the horse had anything to do with Mourad, because he couldn’t have bought it.

To which tribe did Mourad and Aram belong? Which traits of the tribe are particularly stressed upon in the story ‘The Summer of the Beautiful White Horse’?

Mourad and Aram belonged to the Garoghlanian tribe. The Garoghlanians were extremely poor but they were known for honesty for centuries. They would not steal, nor lie. They were proud first, honest next and believed in doing the right deeds. No one of their tribe would ever steal. Everyone including the rich Armenian farmers trusted them.

Why did Aram find it hard to believe that Mourad had stolen the horse?:

Though Mourad was too poor to buy a horse, Aram found it difficult to believe that he had stolen it. This was because Mourad came from a family that firmly upheld honesty as their special trait and were proud of it.

How can we say that Aram and Mourad were very fond of riding?

Mourad brought a horse which did not belong to him. Though he knew that their tribe was well- known for honesty, he could not help stealing John Byro’s horse for riding. They enjoyed riding at 4:00 a.m. when it was still dark. They used to race the horse across fields, vineyards, orchards, irrigation ditches and country roads. Thus we can say that Aram and Mourad were very fond of riding.

List two character-traits of Mourad?

Mourad was considered eccentric by everybody who knew him except the narrator. He was quite obsessed about horses. Secondly, he was more lively than anybody else.

Why did John Byro visit Aram’s house in his surrey after getting his horse back?

John Byro visited Aram’s house to share his excitement that the horse, that had been missing, returned. He said that the horse became stronger than ever and got better tempered.

Do you think John Byro recognised his horse? Why did he not accuse the boys of stealing his horse?

Yes, John Byro indeed recognized his horse. When he met the boys, walking with his horse which had been stolen, asked its name and examined its teeth. He said it must be the twin of his stolen horse. He said that he trusted their family’s honesty, so he was not willing to create a fuss and did not have any intention to call them thieves.

Though he recognized his horse yet he would not even suspect them of stealing this horse. John Byro did not blame the boys nor made any formal complaint regarding the theft of his horse. He merely touched upon their family honour as a token of his trust towards them.. This had the desired effect on the children and they returned the horse.

What can you gather of Mourad from below:

“I have an understanding with a horse.”

“Horses understand me.”

“I have a way with a horse. ”

Who speaks the above? What do they indicate of him?

Mourad had been quite tender and affectionate towards the horse. He would put his arms around it, press his nose into the horse’s nose and pat it. He knew his ways. It was not easy to tame someone else’s horse and get it to behave nicely. Mourad knew exactly how to do that. At first, it wanted to run wild. Gradually, Mourad was able to control the horse and make him do what he wanted him to do. Even John Byro, the rightful owner, admitted that the horse had become better-tempered and stronger than ever.