f the stars and the wisdom
that had to do with the ways of the gods.

Once, when they were hunting together, Jason saw a form at the end of
an alley of trees--the form of a woman it was--of a woman who had on
her head a shining crown. Never had Jason dreamt of seeing a form so
wondrous. Not very near did he come, but he thought he knew that the
woman smiled upon him. She was seen no more, and Jason knew that he had
looked upon one of the immortal goddesses.

All day Jason was filled with thought of her whom he had seen. At
night, when the stars were out, and when they were seated outside the
cave, Chiron and Jason talked together, and Chiron told the youth that
she whom he had seen was none other than Hera, the wife of Zeus, who
had for his father AEson and for himself an especial friendliness.

So Jason grew up upon the mountain and in the forest fastnesses. When
he had reached his full height and had shown himself swift in the hunt
and strong with the spear and bow, Chiron told him that the time had
come when he should go back to the world of men and make his name
famous by the doing of great deeds.

And when Chiron told him about his father AEson--about how he had been
thrust out of the kingship by Pelias, his uncle a great longing came
upon Jason to see his father and a fierce anger grew up in his heart
against Pelias.

Then the time came when he bade good-by to Chiron his great instructor;
the time came when he went from the centaur's cave for the last time,
and went through the wooded ways and down the side of the Mountain
Pelion. He came to the river, to the swift Anaurus, and he found it
high in flood. The stones by which one might cross were almost all
washed over; far apart did they seem in the flood.

Now as he stood there pondering on what he might do there came up to
him an old woman who had on her back a load of brushwood. "Wouldst thou
cross?" asked the old woman. "Wouldst thou cross and get thee to the
city of Iolcus, Jason, where so many things await thee?"

Greatly was the youth astonished to hear his name spoken by this old
woman, and to hear her give the name of the city he was bound for.
"Wouldst thou cross the Anaurus?" she asked again. "Then mount upon my
back, holding on to the wood I carry, and I will bear thee over the
river."

Jason smiled. How foolish this old woman was to think that she could
bear him across the flooded river! She came near him and she took him
in her arms and lift