THE SHIP OF THE PLAINS 97 



that one we will build a temple here on our 

 Acropolis." 



" It is well ! " cried the king. 



" It is well ! " cried Athena and Poseidon. 



" It is well ! " echoed the people. 



" And do you agree? " asked the king, address- 

 ing the rival claimants. 



" We agree," said they both. " We submit to 

 the trial at once ; and do you and your councilors 

 decide which of our gifts is the more acceptable." 



Then Poseidon strode haughtily forward and 

 smote the bare rock with his trident. So heavy 

 was his stroke that the entire hill trembled be- 

 neath it, and a deep, narrow cleft was opened in 

 the solid limestone. Then out of the fissure there 

 leaped a snow-white horse with flashing eyes and 

 arching neck and impatient feet. It was the most 

 wonderful creature that the people had ever seen, 

 and they were terribly frightened by his sudden 

 appearance. 



" Behold the horse ! " said Poseidon. " Behold 

 the noblest of all beasts, man's best friend, the 

 emblem of power and strength and of your own 

 glorious future with me as your patron and pro- 

 tector." 



Then Athena touched the ground with her 



