There was no time to dismount and render assistance.

The whole thing was over in less than ten seconds.

The Shagird might, indeed, have saved the fall had he kept his head instead of losing it.

All he could do was, with a loud voice and outstretched arms, to invoke the assistance of "Allah!" We were not long in suspense.

Slowly, inch by inch, the poor brute lost his hold of the slippery ground, and disappeared, with a shrill neigh of terror, from sight.