12 THE WONDER-BOOK OF HORSES 



favor? If so, do not be afraid to tell me; for 

 you know that I will do anything for you — that 

 I will give you an)rthing that you ask." 



" There is something," said Phaethon, " that 

 I long for more than anything else in the world; 

 and I have come to ask you to give it to me." 



" What is it, my child ? " asked Helios, eagerly. 

 " Only speak, and it shall be yours." 



" Father, will you promise to do for me that 

 which I shall ask? " 



Then Helios lifted up his hands, and vowed 

 by the river Styx which flows through the under- 

 world, that he would surely grant to his son 

 Phaethon whatsoever he desired. And this he 

 did, knowing full well the terrible punishment 

 that would be his in case he should not observe 

 that vow. Nine years he would have to lie on 

 the ground as though he were dead, and nine 

 other years he would be shut out from the com- 

 pany of his friends ; his sun-car would be broken 

 in pieces, and his fleet horses lost forever, and the 

 whole world doomed to everlasting night. 



The young man was glad when his father had 

 made this vow. He spoke quickly, and said: 

 " This, then, O father, is the boon which I have 

 come to askj and which you have promised to 



