illed with liquid fire, and this vein is closed with a nail. I
will find out where the nail is placed, and when I have got it into my
hands you shall water your ship in peace."

So they took the witch-maiden and left her alone on the shore. And she
stood there all alone in her beauty till the giant strode back red-hot
from head to heel.

When he saw the maiden he stopped. And she looked boldly up into his
face and sang a magic song, and she held up a flash of crystal and
said, "I am Medeia, the witch-maiden. My sister Circe gave me this and
said, 'Go, reward Talus, the faithful giant, for his fame is gone out
into all lands.' So come and I will pour this into your veins, that
you may live for ever young."

And he listened to her false words, that simple Talus, and came near.

But Medeia said, "Dip yourself in the sea first and cool yourself,
lest you burn my tender hands. Then show me the nail in your vein, and
in that will I pour the liquid from the crystal flask."

Then that simple Talus dipped himself in the sea, and came and knelt
before Medeia and showed the secret nail.

And she drew the nail out gently, but she poured nothing in, and
instead the liquid fire streamed forth.

Talus tried to leap up, crying, "You have betrayed me, false
witch-maiden."

But she lifted up her hands before him and sang, till he sank beneath
her spell.

And as he sank, the earth groaned beneath his weight and the liquid
fire ran from his heel, like a stream of lava, to the sea.

Then Medeia laughed and called to the heroes, "Come and water your
ship in peace."

So they came and found the giant lying dead, and they fell down and
kissed Medeia's feet, and watered their ship, and took sheep and oxen,
and so left that inhospitable shore.

At the next island they went ashore and offered sacrifices, and
Orpheus purged them from their guilt.

And at last, after many weary days and nights, all worn and tired, the
heroes saw once more Pelion and Iolcos by the sea.

They ran the ship ashore, but they had no strength left to haul her
up the beach, and they crawled out on the pebbles and wept, till they
could weep no more.

For the houses and the trees were all altered, and all the faces they
saw were strange, so that their joy was swallowed up in sorrow.

The people crowded round and asked them, "Who are you, that you sit
weeping here?"

"We are the sons of your princes, who sailed in search of the Golden
Fleece, and we have