STORY OF PHAETHON 49 



When Phaethon looked down upon the earth 

 from that great height, he grew pale with fear, 

 and his knees shook. 



The reins fell from his hands. 



The horses plunged down the steep path 

 toward the earth. 



The clouds began to smoke. 



The mountain tops were set on fire. 



The rivers were dried up and mountains be- 

 came deserts. 



The people of Africa were burnt black. 



Even Neptune, who lives in the sea, cried out 

 in terror. 



All the people called upon Jupiter to save 

 them. 



Jupiter looked down from Olympus. He saw 

 that something had to be done quickly or the 

 world would be burnt up. 



Taking a thunderbolt in his hand, he hurled 

 it against Phaethon and killed him. 



The unhappy boy fell from the car. Down, 

 down, he went like a shooting star. At last 

 he sank into a great river. 



The horses, snorting and foaming, found their 

 way back to their house in the East. 



