w heaved and bubbled, and out of every clod rose a man.
Out of the earth they rose by thousands, each clad from head to foot in
steel, and drew their swords and rushed on Jason, where he stood in the
midst alone. Then the Minuai grew pale with fear for him; but Aietes
laughed a bitter laugh. "See! if I had not warriors enough already round
me, I could call them out of the bosom of the earth."

But Jason snatched off his helmet, and hurled it into the thickest of
the throng. And blind madness came upon them, suspicion, hate, and fear;
and one cried to his fellow, "Thou didst strike me!" and another, "Thou
art Jason; thou shalt die!" So fury seized those earth-born phantoms,
and each turned his hand against the rest; and they fought and were
never weary, till they all lay dead upon the ground. Then the magic
furrows opened, and the kind earth took them home into her breast; and
the grass grew up all green again above them, and Jason's work was done.

Then the Minuai rose and shouted, till Prometheus heard them from his
crag. And Jason cried: "Lead me to the fleece this moment, before the
sun goes down."

But Aietes thought: "He has conquered the bulls; and sown and reaped the
deadly crop. Who is this who is proof against all magic? He may kill the
serpent yet." So he delayed, and sat taking counsel with his princes,
till the sun went down and all was dark. Then he bade a herald cry,
"Every man to his home for to-night. To-morrow we will meet these
heroes, and speak about the golden fleece."

Then he turned and looked at Medeia: "This is your doing, false witch
maid! You have helped these yellow-haired strangers, and brought shame
upon your father and yourself!"

Medeia shrank and trembled, and her face grew pale with fear; and Aietes
knew that she was guilty, and whispered, "If they win the fleece, you
die!"

But the Minuai marched toward their ship, growling like lions cheated of
their prey; for they saw that Aietes meant to mock them, and to cheat
them out of all their toil. And Oileus said, "Let us go to the grove
together, and take the fleece by force."

And Idas the rash cried, "Let us draw lots who shall go in first; for
while the dragon is devouring one, the rest can slay him, and carry off
the fleece in peace." But Jason held them back, though he praised them;
for he hoped for Medeia's help.

And after awhile Medeia came trembling, and wept a long while before she
spoke. And at last:

"My end is come, a