when he was going to eat, devoured the food, and spoilt what
they did not eat. The Argonauts having among them two winged sons of
Boreas (the north wind), hunted these horrible creatures far out into the
Mediterranean. Phineus then told them that they would have to pass
between some floating rocks called the Symplegades, which were always
enveloped in mist, were often driven together by the wind, and crushed
whatever was between. He told them to let fly a dove, and if it went
through safely they might follow. They did so, and the dove came out at
the other side, but with her tail clipped off as the rocks met. However,
on went the Argo, each hero rowing for his life, and Juno and Pallas
helping them; and, after all, they were but just in time, and lost the
ornaments at their stern! Fate had decreed that, when once a ship passed
through these rocks unhurt, they should become fixed, and thus they were
no longer dangerous. It does not seem unlikely that this story might
have come from some report of the dangers of icebergs. Of course there
are none in the Black Sea, but the Greeks, who knew little beyond their
own shores, seem to have fancied that this was open to the north into the
great surrounding ocean, and the Phoenicians, who were much more
adventurous sailors than they, may have brought home histories of the
perils they met in the Atlantic Ocean.

The Argonauts had one more encounter with Hercules' old foes, the birds
of Stymphalis, and after this safely arrived at Colchis, and sailed into
the mouth of the river Phasis, from which it is said the pheasant takes
its name.

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CHAP. VII.--THE SUCCESS OF THE ARGONAUTS.

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When Jason arrived at Colchis, he sent to King AEetes, and asked of him
the Golden Fleece. To this AEetes replied that he might have it,
provided he could yoke the two brazen-footed bulls with flaming breath,
which had been a present from Vulcan, and with them plough a piece of
land, and sow it with the dragon's teeth. Pallas had given AEetes half
the teeth of the dragon of Thebes, which had been slain by Cadmus.

The task seemed beyond his reach, till Medea, the wicked witch, daughter
of AEetes, promised to help him, on condition that he would marry her,
and take her to Greece. When Jason had sworn to do so, Medea gave him an
ointment with which to rub himself, also his