2l8 THE WONDER-BOOK OF HORSES 



of the goddess Athena. The soothsayers declared 

 that not only would it bless its builders, but that 

 into whatever city it should go, there it would 

 carry good fortune and peace and prosperity. 

 The Greeks, however, were unwilling that it 

 should bring happiness to you, their foes, and 

 hence they built it very large, and so tall that it 

 cannot pass through any of your gates ; and they 

 placed it here close to the reedy marsh, in the 

 hope that, when the autumn rains fell and the sea 

 raged furiously, the waves would beat upon and 

 overwhelm it and carry it away, and no people 

 whatever should be blessed by its presence." 



"Ah! That is their game, is it?" cried the 

 Trojans with one voice. " Well, we '11 see about 

 that. We '11 have the good horse inside our walls 

 this very night." 



Then there was great shouting and rejoicing 

 on every side, and those who had been the first 

 to wreak their spite upon Sinon were the first to 

 undo his bonds and wipe the blood from his face, 

 and find food for him to eat. Forthwith two com- 

 panies of men were sent to the city, one to bring 

 long, strong ropes, and the other to make a 

 breach in the wall large enough to allow the great 

 horse to be drawn through. 



