SWIFT AND OLD-GOLD 207 



clared to be none other than Hermes, the helper 

 of men, come down to aid the old man in his dire 

 extremity. And upon the bier behind, covered 

 with heavy robes, was all that remained of the 

 mighty Hector. 



" They go thus early for fear of the Greeks, 

 who are crafty above all other men," said Old- 

 Gold. Then the steeds returned to their manger 

 of sweet clover. 



And at sunrise, at a little distance outside of 

 the city gates, all the people of Troy met Priam 

 bringing home his dead. 



SEVENTH HEAT. — THE GOAL 



But the doom of Achilles, which the soothsayer 

 had foretold at his birth, came sure and soon. 

 One day, while hard fighting was going on be- 

 neath the walls of Troy, he drove his chariot 

 close up to the famous gate, called the Scsean, and 

 stopped to taunt the unhappy Trojans who stood 

 upon the battlements. Vainly did the faithful 

 steed, Old-Gold, champ upon his foaming bit and 

 rear in his traces and strain hard upon the reins ; 

 for he knew the fate that threatened his master 

 and would fain have carried him away from dan- 



