2l6 THE WONDER-BOOK OF HORSES 



am by birth a Greek. But people I have none; 

 for the Greeks have condemned me to death, and 

 now ye Trojans also seek my life. Where, indeed, 

 shall I turn when kinsmen and foes would alike 

 slay me ? " 



These words, spoken in sweet and persuasive 

 tones, touched the hearts of the rude rabble, and 

 they paused to hear what further the young man 

 would say. 



" Speak on," said the king's counselor, " and 

 tell us by what cruel fate you have been left be- 

 hind by your countrymen to fall into the hands 

 of your foes." 



" It is a long story," responded the young man, 

 " but I will not weary you. For more than a year 

 the crafty Ulysses has been plotting my destruc- 

 tion, and for no other reason than because I once 

 befriended a chief whom he dislikes. When, at 

 length, three months ago, the Greeks decided in 

 council to give up this war and return to their 

 own land, he saw his opportunity. Storms swept 

 across the sea, and the south wind brought 

 tempests in its train, and the ships dared not leave 

 their moorings. Then the chiefs called together 

 the soothsayers and asked them what should be 

 done to appease the gods, that so they might have 

 favorable winds and a smooth sea for their home- 



