f love. He restored her to the arms of her delighted parents,
and entered their palace a happy bridegroom.

Soon the wedding festivities began, and there was general rejoicing. The
banquet was not yet over, however, when a sudden tumult arose in the
court of the palace. It was caused by Phineus, brother of Cepheus, who
had been betrothed to his niece Andromeda, but had failed her in her
hour of need. He now made his appearance with a host of followers and
clamored for his bride.

But Cepheus arose and cried:

"Brother, art thou mad? Thou didst lose thy bride when she was given up
to death before thy face. Why didst thou not then win back the prize?
Leave her now to him who fought for her and saved her."

Phineus held his peace, but cast furious looks both at his brother and
at Perseus, as if hesitating which to strike first. Finally, with all
his might, he threw a spear at Perseus, but missed the mark. This was
the signal for a general combat between the guests and servants of
Cepheus and Phineus and his followers. The latter were the more
numerous, and at last Perseus was quite surrounded by enemies. He fought
valiantly, however, striking down his opponents one after another, until
he saw that he could not hold out to the end against such odds. Then he
made up his mind to use his last, but surest, means of defense, and
crying, "Let those who are my friends turn away their faces," he drew
forth the head of Medusa and held it toward his nearest adversary.

"Seek thou others," cried the warrior, "whom thou mayst frighten with
thy miracles!"

But in the very act of lifting his spear he grew stiff and motionless as
a statue. The same fate came upon all who followed, till at last Phineus
repented of his unjust conduct. All about him he saw nothing but stone
images in every conceivable posture. He called despairingly upon his
friends and laid hands on those near him; but all were silent, cold and
stony. Then fear and sorrow seized him, and his threats changed to
prayers.

"Spare me--spare my life!" he cried to Perseus, "and bride and kingdom
shall be thine!"

But Perseus was not to be moved to mercy, for his friends had been
killed before his very face. So Phineus shared the doom of his followers
and was turned to stone.

After these events Perseus and Andromeda were married, and together they
journeyed to Seriphos, where they heard that the king had been
ill-treating Danae. When, therefore, the tyrant assembled hi