ing that made her weep. That evening the slave
came in and AEson took the child from the arms of the mournful-eyed
mother and put him in the slave's arms. Also he gave him a horn and a
ring with a great ruby in it and mystic images engraved on its gold.
Then when the ways were dark the slave mounted a horse, and, with the
child in his arms, rode through the city that King Pelias ruled over.
In the morning he came to that mountain that is all covered with
forest, the Mountain Pelion. And that evening he came back to the
village and to AEson's hidden house, and he told his master how he had
prospered.

AEson was content thereafter although he was lonely and although his
wife was lonely in their childlessness. But the time came when they
rejoiced that their child had been sent into an unreachable place. For
messengers from King Pelias came inquiring about the boy. They told the
king's messengers that the child had strayed off from his nurse, and
that whether he had been slain by a wild beast or had been drowned in
the swift River Anaurus they did not know.

The years went by and Pelias felt secure upon the throne he had taken
from his brother. Once he sent to the oracle of the gods to ask of it
whether he should be fearful of anything. What the oracle answered was
this: that King Pelias had but one thing to dread--the coming of a
half-shod man.

The centaur nourished the child Jason on roots and fruits and honey;
for shelter they had a great cave that Chiron had lived in for
numberless years. When he had grown big enough to leave the cave Chiron
would let Jason mount on his back; with the child holding on to his
great mane he would trot gently through the ways of the forest.

Jason began to know the creatures of the forest and their haunts.
Sometimes Chiron would bring his great bow with him; then Jason, on his
back, would hold the quiver and would hand him the arrows. The centaur
would let the boy see him kill with a single arrow the bear, the boar,
or the deer. And soon Jason, running beside him, hunted too.

No heroes were ever better trained than those whose childhood and youth
had been spent with Chiron the king-centaur. He made them more swift of
foot than any other of the children of men. He made them stronger and
more ready with the spear and bow. Jason was trained by Chiron as
Heracles just before him had been trained, and as Achilles was to be
trained afterward.

Moreover, Chiron taught him the knowledge o