HELIOS'S FOUR-IN-HAND II 



and more hair than brains, whom the gods have 

 seen fit to favor for a day." 



" He claims to be of better blood than the 

 rest of us," said the followers of Epaphos ; " yet 

 everybody knows that he was born in a miserable 

 village a long way from Athens, and that his 

 mother is the daughter of a fisherman." 



But the young girls whispered among them- 

 selves : " How handsome he is, and how deftly he 

 managed the reins! What if he be indeed the 

 son of Helios ! Would n't it be grand to see him 

 sitting in his father's chariot, and guiding the 

 sun-steeds along their lofty road ? " And they 

 said to him, " Phaethon, if you will drive your 

 father's team for only one little day, we will be- 

 lieve in you." 



At length Phaethon made a long journey to 

 the golden palace of the Dawn in the far distant 

 East. Helios, with his steeds, had just returned 

 from the labors of the day, and he was overjoyed 

 to see his son. He threw his arms about him, 

 and kissed him many times, and called him by 

 many endearing names. 



" And now tell me," he said, " what brings you 

 here at this quiet hour of the night, when all 

 men are asleep. Have you come to seek some 



