THE GREAT WOODEN HORSE 219 



III. THE FATE OF LAOCOON 



In the meanwhile a fearful tragedy was being 

 enacted on the beach. Laocoon, the priest of 

 Apollo, had built an altar on the sands and was 

 making ready to offer up a sacrifice, as had been 

 the custom of his country from ancient times. 

 His two sons stood beside him, one on either hand, 

 ready to do their part. Suddenly loud shouts 

 arose from those who were nearest the sea, and 

 everybody fled in dismay. Looking out toward 

 the island of Tenedos, Laocoon saw two huge 

 serpents swimming with wondrous speed toward 

 the land. He smiled at the cowardly fears of the 

 people, and would not desert the altar which he 

 had raised. He doubtless thought that the rep- 

 tiles were mere water-snakes, and that they would 

 not venture upon the land. But in this he was 

 sadly mistaken, for upon reaching the beach the 

 serpents reared their heads high in the air and 

 glided with the swiftness of light over the sands. 

 Ere Laocoon and his boys could make a single 

 movement toward escape, the horrid creatures 

 had reached the altar ; they had twined their slimy 

 folds around the necks and limbs of the three un- 



