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The Greeks took care to time their steps with those of the messenger when they encountered gravelly ground where their steps might be heard. They also took a way which they expected to allow them to pass a side-track ahead of the messenger, to avoid the possibility that he might notice them if he looked left at that point.
The Trojans moved cautiously at first, to avoid obvious disturbance or rustling in the tall grasses. But soon they reached a narrow but well-trodden path parallel to the main one. This allowed much swifter travel. They arrived first at the place of ambush. Their leader made a bird-call. This was soon followed by a similar call from the other side of the path. Both patrols waited in silence. But there was no sight nor sound of the messenger.
After a long wait, the leader of the Trojan patrol went out onto the path, and called out:
‘We won! We got here first.’
The boy leading the Greeks jumped down from behind a rock, and shouted:
‘No, you didn’t win! The winner had to touch the robe of the messenger.’
(2/4)