oth from the Graiai, the ancient daughters of Phorcys, may Mother
Night smother him."

The youth spoke. "Ancient daughters of Phorcys," he said, "Graiai, I
would not rob from you. I have come to your cave only to ask the way to
a place."

"Ah, it is a mortal, a mortal," screamed the sisters. "Well, mortal,
what would you have from the Graiai?"

"Ancient Graiai," said the youth, "I would have you tell me, for you
alone know, where the nymphs dwell who guard the three magic
treasures--the cap of darkness, the shoes of flight, and the magic
pouch."

"We will not tell you, we will not tell you that," screamed the two
ancient sisters.

"I will keep the eye and the tooth," said the youth, "and I will give
them to one who will help me."

"Give me the eye and I will tell you," said one. "Give me the tooth and
I will tell you," said the other. The youth put the eye in the hand of
one and the tooth in the hand of the other, but he held their skinny
hands in his strong hands until they should tell him where the nymphs
dwelt who guarded the magic treasures. The Gray Ones told him. Then the
youth with the bright sword left the cave. As he went out he saw on the
ground a shield of bronze, and he took it with him.

To the other side of where Atlas stands he went. There he came upon the
nymphs in their valley. They had long dwelt there, hidden from gods and
men, and they were startled to see a stranger youth come into their
hidden valley. They fled away. Then the youth sat on the ground, his
head bent like a man who is very sorrowful.

The youngest and the fairest of the nymphs came to him at last. "Why
have you come, and why do you sit here in such great trouble, youth?"
said she. And then she said: "What is this strange sickle-sword that
you wear? Who told you the way to our dwelling place? What name have
you?"

"I have come here," said the youth, and he took the bronze shield upon
his knees and began to polish it, "I have come here because I want you,
the nymphs who guard them, to give to me the cap of darkness and the
shoes of flight and the magic pouch. I must gain these things; without
them I must go to my death. Why I must gain them you will know from my
story."

When he said that he had come for the three magic treasures that they
guarded, the kind nymph was more startled than she and her sisters had
been startled by the appearance of the strange youth in their hidden
valley. She turned away from him. But she look