"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
the judge had commanded. The faithful old horse lived in comfort all the
rest of his life, for his master, in caring for him, learned to love him
again, and treated him as only a faithful friend should be treated.
When the king heard the story he said:
"Surely, never will the bell ring in a better cause than in speaking for
a suffering dumb creature who can not speak for himself.
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