tall elm, and uprooting it, cast it into
the river to dam the torrent. For the moment only was the angry river
stayed. In fear did Achilles flee across the plain, but with a mighty
roar it pursued him, and caught him.

To the gods then cried Achilles, and to his aid came Athene, and close
to the walls of Troy again did Achilles chase the Trojan men.

From the city walls old Priam saw the dreadful things Achilles
wrought.

And when, his armor blazing like the brightest stars of the sky, he
drew near, and Hector would have gone to meet him, in grief did Priam
cry to his dearly loved son:

"Hector, beloved son, I pray thee go not alone to meet this man;
mightier far than thou is he."

But all eager for the fight was Hector. Of all the men of Troy he
alone still stood unafraid. Then did the mother of Hector beseech him
to hold back from what must surely mean death. Yet Hector held not
back, but on his shining shield leaned against a tower, awaiting the
coming of the great destroyer.

And at last they met, face to face, spear to spear. As a shooting-star
in the darkness so flashed the spear of Achilles as he hurled it home
to pierce the neck of Hector. Gods and men had deserted Hector, and
alone before the walls of Troy he fell and died.

Thus ended the fight.

For twelve days did the Greek host rejoice, and all through the days
Hector's body lay unburied. For at the heels of swift horses had the
Greeks dragged him to the ships, while from the battlements his mother
and his wife Andromache watched, wailing in agony, with hearts that
broke.

Then at length went old Priam to the camp of the Greeks. And before
Achilles he fell, beseeching him to have mercy and to give him back
the body of his son.

So was the heart of Achilles moved, and the body of Hector ransomed;
and with wailing of women did the people of Troy welcome home their
hero.

Over him lamented his old mother, for of all her sons was he to her
most dear, and over him wept, with burning tears, his wife Andromache.

And to his bier came Helen, and with breaking heart did she sob forth
her sorrow:

"Dearest of my brothers," she said, "from thee have I heard neither
reproach nor evil word. With kind words and gentle heart hast thou
ever stood by me. Lost, lost is my one true friend. No more in
Troyland is any left to pity me."

On lofty funeral pyre then laid they the dead Hector, and when the
flames had consumed his body his comrades placed his wh