I20 THE WONDER-BOOK OF HORSES 



drive their spurs into their horses' flanks — what 

 fine sport it is going to be! But the war steeds 

 hear nothing, care for nothing, but the music. 

 They hft their slender hoofs in unison with the 

 inspiring strains. 



And now the armed Crotoniates appear on the 

 field, but the pipers still pipe, and the horses still 

 dance — they caper, curvet, caracole, pirouette, 

 waltz, trip the light fantastic hoof, forgetful of 

 everything but the delightful harmony. The 

 Sybarite riders have been so sure of the victory 

 that they have taken more trouble to ornament 

 than to arm themselves. Some of them are pulled 

 from their dancing horses by the Crotoniate foot- 

 men, others slip to the ground and run as fast as 

 their nerveless legs will carry them back to the 

 shelter of the city walls. The shepherds and 

 fifers retreat slowly toward Crotona, still piping 

 merrily, and the sprightly horses follow them, 

 keeping step with the music. 



The dancing horses cross the boundary lines 

 between the two countries, they waltz over the 

 Crotoniate fields, they caracole gaily through the 

 Crotoniate gates, and when the fifers cease their 

 playing the streets of Crotona are full of fine war- 

 horses ! 



