headlong down a precipice to death. [8] The lad seemed to take all
their lessons to heart at the time: but then he saw a stag leap up,
and forgot all the wise cautions he had heard, giving chase forthwith,
noticing nothing except the beast ahead of him. His horse, in its
furious plunge forward, slipped, and came down on its knees, all but
throwing the rider over its head. As luck would have it the boy
managed to keep his seat, and the horse recovered its footing. When
they reached the flat bottom, Cyrus let fly his javelin, and the stag
fell dead, a beautiful big creature. The lad was still radiant with
delight when up rode the guard and took him severely to task. Could he
not see the danger he had run? They would certainly tell his
grandfather, that they would. Cyrus, who had dismounted, stood quite
still and listened ruefully, hanging his head while they rated him.
But in the middle of it all he heard the view-halloo again: he sprang
to his horse as though frenzied--a wild-boar was charging down on
them, and he charged to meet it, and drawing his bow with the surest
aim possible, struck the beast in the forehead, and laid him low. [9]
But now his uncle thought it was high time to scold his nephew
himself; the lad's boldness was too much. Only, the more he scolded
the more Cyrus begged he would let him take back the spoil as a
present for his grandfather. To which appeal, says the story, his
uncle made reply: "But if your grandfather finds out that you have
gone in chase yourself, he will not only scold you for going but me
for letting you go." "Well, let him whip me if he likes," said the
boy, "when once I have given him my beasts: and you too, uncle," he
went on, "punish me however you choose, only do not refuse me this."
So Cyaxares was forced to yield:--"Have it your own way then, you are
little less than our king already." [10] Thus it was that Cyrus was
allowed to bring his trophies home, and in due course presented them
to his grandfather. "See, grandfather, here are some animals I have