The judge, with a great crowd following, hurried to the market place,
but when they came near, they stopped in surprise. No man was near, who
might have rung the bell; no one but a thin old horse, who stood quietly
munching the vine which grew around the bell rope. He had spied the
green leaves growing there, and, being hungry, had reached for them,
thus ringing the great bell of Atri, and calling forth the judge and all
the people.

"'Tis the old knight's horse," the people cried. Then many told the tale
of how the old horse had been turned out to starve, while his master
hoarded and saved his gold.

"The horse has rung the bell for justice, and justice he shall have,"
said the judge. "Go, bring the old knight to me."

The knight was hurried to the place, where, before all the people, the
judge censured him for his cruel treatment of his faithful old horse,
and asked him to give a reason for it.

"The old beast is useless," said his master. "He is mine, and I have a
right to do with him as I wish."

"Not so," said the judge. "He has served you faithfully all his life. He
can not speak to tell of his wrongs, so we must speak for him. Go, now;
take him home. Build a new stable and care for him well."

The old knight walked slowly home, while the horse was led behind by the
crowd.

So the Great Bell of Atri had righted one more wrong, for it was even as