; swans were soaring above and
swimming on its surface.

All in wonder the heroes gazed on the great shield, telling each other
that only one man in all the world could carry it--Heracles the son of
Zeus. Could it be that Heracles had come amongst them? They went into
the feasting hall and they saw one there who was tall as a pine tree,
with unshorn tresses of hair upon his head. Heracles indeed it was! He
turned to them a smiling face with smiling eyes. Heracles! They all
gathered around the strongest hero in the world, and he took the hand
of each in his mighty hand.

V. THE ARGO

The heroes went the next day through the streets of Iolcus down to
where the ship lay. The ways they went through were crowded; the heroes
were splendid in their appearance, and Jason amongst them shone like a
star.

The people praised him, and one told the other that it would not be
long until they would win back to Iolcus, for this band of heroes was
strong enough, they said, to take King AEetes's city and force him to
give up to them the famous Fleece of Gold. Many of the bright-eyed
youths of Iolcus went with the heroes who had come from the different
parts of Greece.

As they marched past a temple a priestess came forth to speak to Jason;
Iphias was her name. She had a prophecy to utter about the voyage. But
Iphias was very old, and she stammered in her speech to Jason. What she
said was not heard by him. The heroes went on, and ancient Iphias was
left standing there as the old are left by the young.

The heroes went aboard the Argo. They took their seats as at an
assembly. Then Jason faced them and spoke to them all.

"Heroes of the quest," said Jason, "we have come aboard the great ship
that Argus has built, and all that a ship needs is in its place or is
ready to our hands. All that we wait for now is the coming of the
morning's breeze that will set us on our way for far Colchis.

"One thing we have first to do--that is, to choose a leader who will
direct us all, one who will settle disputes amongst ourselves and who
will make treaties between us and the strangers that we come amongst.
We must choose such a leader now."

Jason spoke, and some looked to him and some looked to Heracles. But
Heracles stood up, and, stretching out his hand, said:

"Argonauts! Let no one amongst you offer the leadership to me. I will
not take it. The hero who brought us together and made all things ready
for our going--it is he and no one