"When they reached the market-place, no one was there; but they saw the
starving old horse, nibbling at the tender grapevine.

"'Ho, ho!' cried one, 'it is the miser's brave old steed. He rings the
bell to plead for justice.'

"'And justice he shall have!' cried another.

"'See how thin he is,' said a lad with a kind heart.

"By this time, many people had gathered in the market-place. When they
saw the old horse, a murmur of astonishment swept through the crowd.

"'The miser's steed!' cried one to another. 'He has waited long; but he
shall have justice today.'

"'I have seen the old horse wandering on the hillside day after day, in
search of food,' said an old man.

"'And while the noble steed has no shelter,' said his neighbor, 'his
master sits at home, counting his gold.'

"'Bring his master to us!' cried the judges sternly.

"And so they brought him. In silence he waited to hear what the judges
would say.

"'This brave steed of yours,' they said, 'has served you faithfully for
many a long year. He has saved your life in times of danger. He has
helped you to hoard your bags of gold. Therefore, hear your sentence, O