BUCEPHALUS 12$ 



" What a shame to spoil so fine a horse ! The 

 awkward cowards know nothing about handling 

 him ! " cried the king's son, Alexander, who was 

 standing by. 



" Are you finding fault with men who are wiser 

 than yourself ? " asked the king, growing still 

 more angry. " Do you, a boy twelve years old, 

 pretend to know more about handling horses than 

 these men, whose business it is ? " 



" I can certainly handle this horse better," said 

 the prince. 



" Suppose you try it ! " 



" I wish that I might." 



" How much will you forfeit if you try, and 

 fail?" 



" I will forfeit the price which you paid for the 

 horse," answered Alexander. 



Everybody laughed, but the king said, " Stand 

 away, and let the lad try his skill." 



Alexander ran quickly to the horse and turned 

 his head toward the sun, for he had noticed that 

 the animal was afraid of his own shadow. Then 

 he spoke softly and gently to him, and kindly 

 stroked his neck. The horse seemed to know that 

 he had found a friend, and little by little his un- 

 easiness left him. Soon with a light spring the 



