a
rich father, and he was the only boy in a family of five sisters. He was
ugly, but a very swift runner, and he cared for horses more than for
anything else in the world. Dolon arose and said, "If you will swear to
give me the horses and chariot of Achilles, son of Peleus, I will steal
to the hut of Agamemnon and listen and find out whether the Greeks mean
to fight or flee." Hector swore to give these horses, which were the
best in the world, to Dolon, so he took his bow and threw a grey wolf's
hide over his shoulders, and ran towards the ships of the Greeks.

Now Ulysses saw Dolon as he came, and said to Diomede, "Let us suffer him
to pass us, and then do you keep driving him with your spear towards the
ships, and away from Troy." So Ulysses and Diomede lay down among the
dead men who had fallen in the battle, and Dolon ran on past them towards
the Greeks. Then they rose and chased him as two greyhounds course a
hare, and, when Dolon was near the sentinels, Diomede cried "Stand, or I
will slay you with my spear!" and he threw his spear just over Dolon's
shoulder. So Dolon stood still, green with fear, and with his teeth
chattering. When the two came up, he cried, and said that his father was
a rich man, who would pay much gold, and bronze, and iron for his ransom.

Ulysses said, "Take heart, and put death out of your mind, and tell us
what you are doing here." Dolon said that Hector had promised him the
horses of Achilles if he would go and spy on the Greeks. "You set your
hopes high," said Ulysses, "for the horses of Achilles are not earthly
steeds, but divine; a gift of the Gods, and Achilles alone can drive
them. But, tell me, do the Trojans keep good watch, and where is Hector
with his horses?" for Ulysses thought that it would be a great adventure
to drive away the horses of Hector.

"Hector is with the chiefs, holding council at the tomb of Ilus," said
Dolon; "but no regular guard is set. The people of Troy, indeed, are
round their watch fires, for they have to think of the safety of their
wives and children; but the allies from far lands keep no watch, for
their wives and children are safe at home." Then he told where all the
different peoples who fought for Priam had their stations; but, said he,
"if you want to steal horses, the best are those of Rhesus, King of the
Thracians, who has only joined us to-night. He and his men are asleep at
the furthest end of the line, and his horses are the best