The next difficulty in the way was black and muddy Acheron, the first
of the seven rivers that ran round Hades, and formed a barrier between
the living and the departed.

This river had not always run under the vaults of Hades. Formerly its
course was upon the earth. But when the Titans attempted to scale
the heaven, this river had the ill luck to quench their thirst,
and Jupiter to punish even the waters of the river for abetting his
enemies, turned its course aside into the under world where its waves,
slow-moving and filthy, lost themselves in Styx, the largest of all
the rivers of Hades, which ran round Pluto's gloomy kingdom no less
than nine times.

On reaching the banks of Styx, Hercules was surprised to see flying
around him a crowd of disconsolate spirits, whom Charon the Ferryman
refused to row across Styx, because they could not pay him his fee of
an obol, a Greek coin worth about three cents of our money, which the
Greeks were accustomed to place in the mouths of their dead for the
purpose, as they thought, of paying Charon his ferry fee.

Fierce Charon frowned when he beheld Hercules for he feared his light
boat of bark would sink under his weight, it being only adapted for
the light and airy spirits of the dead; but when the son of Jupiter
told him his name he was mollified and allowed the hero to take his
place at his side.

As soon as the boat had touched the shore, Hercules went towards the
gloomy palace of Pluto where he with difficulty, on account of the
darkness, saw Pluto seated upon an ebony throne by the side of his
beloved Proserpina.

Pluto was not at all pleased to see the hero, as he hated the living
and had interest only in the shades of the dead. When Hercules
announced himself, however, he gave him a permit to go round his
kingdom and, in addition, acceded to his prayer for the release of
Theseus.

At the foot of Pluto's throne Hercules saw Death the Reaper. He was
clothed in a black robe spotted with stars and his fleshless hand
held the sharp sickle with which he is said to cut down mortals as the
reaper cuts down corn.

Our hero was glad to escape from this dismal palace and as he did not
know exactly where to find Theseus he began to make the circuit of
Hades. During his progress he saw the shades of many people of whom,
on earth, he had heard much talk.

He had been wandering about some time when, in a gloomy chamber, he
saw three old sisters, wan and worn, spinning by th