1 86 THE WONDER-BOOK OF HORSES 



Trojans. In vain did Agamemnon and his chiefs 

 urge their warriors to the fray. Their foes, led 

 by brave Hector of Troy, worsted them on every 

 hand, and later in the day drove them back beaten 

 and disheartened to the shore of the sea and to 

 the shelter of their ships. 



And the two war steeds, champing clover 

 and gazing out of the open door of the court- 

 yard, talked together about the prospects of the 

 war. 



" Methinks," said Swift, " that unless our mas- 

 ter takes the field the Greeks will soon be pushed 

 into the sea." 



" Agamemnon himself knows that," responded 

 Old-Gold, " and he will send men to Achilles 

 this very night, to persuade him to forget his 

 anger." 



" And what will our master do then? " asked 

 Swift. " Tell me, brother, for thou canst some- 

 times see into the future." 



" He will not be moved, for he is unforgiv- 

 ing. And yet he will allow his dear friend Pa- 

 troclus to lead the Myrmidons into the fight. 

 Have courage, brother, for I smell the fray 

 afar off, and we shall have part in it ere many 

 days." 



