[The Romany Rye by George Borrow]@TWC D-Link book
The Romany Rye

CHAPTER XLII
18/36

At last they agreed to obey him whose horse should neigh first on a certain day, in front of the royal palace, before the rising of the sun; for you must know that they did not worship the person who made the sun as we do, but the sun itself.

So one of these chieftains, talking over the matter to his groom, and saying he wondered who would be king, the fellow said, 'Why you, master, or I don't know much about horses.' So the day before the day of trial, what does the groom do, but take his master's horse before the palace and introduce him to a mare in the stable, and then lead him forth again.

Well, early the next day all the chieftains on their horses appeared in front of the palace before the dawn of day.

Not a horse neighed but one, and that was the horse of him who had consulted with his groom, who, thinking of the animal within the stable, gave such a neigh that all the buildings rang.

His rider was forthwith elected king, and a brave king he was.


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