[)e]d'a-l[)u]s),
who was the most skillful worker in wood and stone and
metal that had ever been known. It was he who taught
the people how to build better houses and how to hang 5
their doors on hinges and how to support the roofs with
pillars and posts. He was the first to fasten things together
with glue; he invented the plumb line and the
auger; and he showed seamen how to put up masts in their
ships and how to rig the sails to them with ropes. He 10
built a stone palace for AEgeus, the young king of Athens,
and beautified the Temple of Athena which stood on the
great rocky hill in the middle of the city.

Daedalus had a nephew named Perdix, whom he had
taken when a boy to teach the trade of builder. But 15
Perdix was a very apt learner and soon surpassed his master
in the knowledge of many things. His eyes were ever
open to see what was going on about him, and he learned
the lore of the fields and the woods. Walking one day by
the sea he picked up the backbone of a great fish, and from 20
it he invented the saw. Seeing how a certain bird carved
holes in the trunks of trees, he learned how to make and use
the chisel. Then he invented the wheel which potters
use in molding clay; and he made of a forked stick the
first pair of compasses for drawing circles; and he studied
out many other curious and useful things.

Daedalus was not pleased when he saw that the lad was 5
so apt and wise, so ready to learn, and so eager to do.

"If he keeps on in this way," he murmured, "he will
be a greater man than I; his name will be remembered
and mine will be forgotten."

Day after day, while at his work, Daedalus pondered over 10
this matter, and soon his heart was filled with hatred
towards young Perdix. One morning when the two were
putting up an ornament on the outer wall of Athena's
temple, Daedalus bade his nephew go out on a narrow
scaffold which hung high over the edge of the rocky cliff 15
whereon the temple stood. Then when the lad obeyed,
it was easy enough, with a blow of a hammer, to knock
the scaffold from its fastenings.

Poor Perdix fell headlong through the air, and he would
have been dashed in pieces upon the stones at the foot of 20
the cliff had not kind Athena seen him and taken pity
upon him. While he was yet whirling t