consented to his going. And
Theseus was able to make the people willing to believe that he would be
able to overcome the Minotaur, and so put an end to the terrible
tribute that was being exacted from them.

With six other youths and seven maidens Theseus went on board of the
ship that every year brought to Crete the grievous tribute. This ship
always sailed with black sails. But before it sailed this time King
AEgeus gave to Nausitheus, the master of the ship, a white sail to take
with him. And he begged Theseus, that in case he should be able to
overcome the monster, to hoist the white sail he had given. Theseus
promised he would do this. His father would watch for the return of the
ship, and if the sail were black he would know that the Minotaur had
dealt with his son as it had dealt with the other youths who had gone
from Athens. And if the sail were white AEgeus would have indeed cause
to rejoice.

III

And now the black-sailed ship had come to Crete, and the youths and
maidens of Athens looked from its deck on Knossos, the marvelous city
that Daedalus the builder had built for King Minos. And they saw the
palace of the king, the red and black palace in which was the
labyrinth, made also by Daedalus, where the dread Minotaur was hidden.

In fear they looked upon the city and the palace. But not in fear did
Theseus look, but in wonder at the magnificence of it all--the harbor
with its great steps leading up into the city, the far-spreading palace
all red and black, and the crowds of ships with their white and red
sails. They were brought through the city of Knossos to the palace of
the king. And there Theseus looked upon Minos. In a great red chamber
on which was painted the sign of the axe, King Minos sat.

On a low throne he sat, holding in his hand a scepter on which a bird
was perched. Not in fear, but steadily, did Theseus look upon the king.
And he saw that Minos had the face of one who has thought long upon
troublesome things, and that his eyes were strangely dark and deep. The
king noted that the eyes of Theseus were upon him, and he made a sign
with his head to an attendant and the attendant laid his hand upon him
and brought Theseus to stand beside the king. Minos questioned him as
to who he was and what lands he had been in, and when he learned that
Theseus was the son of AEgeus, the King of Athens, he said the name of
his son who had been slain, "Androgeus, Androgeus," over and over
again, and t