THE GREAT WOODEN HORSE 215 



And they ran hither and thither gathering sticks 

 and driftwood with which to kindle a fire beneath 

 him. 



II. THE CAPTURED GREEK 



In great danger then was the sturdy beast, and 

 the Trojans would have made an end of him 

 right quickly had not something happened to 

 change their minds. Suddenly a great hubbub 

 was heard some distance down the beach, and men 

 and boys, forgetting the horse for the moment, 

 ran hurriedly to the spot to see what was going 

 on. A party of peasants were dragging toward 

 the city a young man who, covered with mud and 

 blood, and with his hands tied behind him, seemed 

 a target for every kind of insult. His clothing 

 told that he was a Greek. 



" Hold on ! " cried one of the king's counselors. 

 " Bring the fellow here, and stop your noise. We 

 will see what he can tell us about his friends and 

 this strange monster that they have left on our 

 shores. Who are you, wretch, and where are 

 your people who so lately were encamped on this 

 very spot?" 



" My name," said the captive, " is Sinon, and I 



