58 THE WONDER-BOOK OF HORSES 



with his long walk, sat down on a stone to rest, 

 and the horse strolled along by the roadside nip- 

 ping the short grass. 



" Do you see the white roof over there among 

 the trees ? " finally asked the old man. " Well, 

 under it there is a shrine to the goddess Athena, 

 of which I am the keeper. A few steps beyond 

 it is my own humble cottage, where I spend my 

 days in study and meditation. If you will go in 

 and lodge with me for the night, I may be able to 

 tell you something about the task that you have 

 undertaken." 



Bellerophon was very glad to accept the old 

 man's invitation, for the sun had already begun 

 to dip below the western hills. The hut contained 

 only two rooms, but everything about it was very 

 clean and cozy, and the kind host spared no pains 

 to make his guest comfortable and happy. After 

 they had eaten supper and were still reclining on 

 couches at the side of the table, the old man 

 looked Bellerophon sharply in the face and said: 



" Now tell me all about yourself and your 

 kindred, and why you are going thus alone and 

 on foot into the country of the Chimasra." 



