Alexander and Bucephalus

by James Baldwin

　　

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One day King Philip bought a fine horse called Bu-ceph´a-lus. He was anoble an-i-mal, and the king paid a very high price for him. But hewas wild and savage, and no man could mount him, or do anything at allwith him.They tried to whip him, but that only made him worse. At last the kingbade his servants take him away."It is a pity to ruin so fine a horse as that," said Al-ex-an´der, theking's young son. "Those men do not know how to treat him.""Perhaps you can do better than they," said his father scorn-ful-ly."I know," said Al-ex-an-der, "that, if you would only give me leave totry, I could manage this horse better than any one else.""And if you fail to do so, what then?" asked Philip."I will pay you the price of the horse," said the lad.While everybody was laughing, Alexander ran up to Bu-ceph-a-lus, andturned his head toward the sun. He had noticed that the horse wasafraid of his own shadow.He then spoke gently to the horse, and patted him with his hand. Whenhe had qui-et-ed him a little, he made a quick spring, and leaped uponthe horse's back.Everybody expected to see the boy killed outright. But he kept hisplace, and let the horse run as fast as he would. By and by, whenBucephalus had become tired, Alexander reined him in, and rode back tothe place where his father was standing.All the men who were there shouted when they saw that the boy hadproved himself to be the master of the horse.He leaped to the ground, and his father ran and kissed him."My son," said the king, "Macedon is too small a place for you. Youmust seek a larger kingdom that will be worthy of you."After that, Alexander and Bucephalus were the best of friends. Theywere said to be always together, for when one of them was seen, theother was sure to be not far away. But the horse would never allow anyone to mount him but his master.Alexander became the most famous king and warrior that was ever known;and for that reason he is always called Alexander the Great.Bucephalus carried him through many countries and in many fiercebattles, and more than once did he save his master's life.

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