e.

On receiving this excellent counsel, Jason hurried back to his
companions (who were far more dismayed than when they fought with the
six-armed giants) and bade them strike with their swords upon their
brazen shields. Forthwith the fifty heroes set heartily to work,
banging with might and main, and raised such a terrible clatter that
the birds made what haste they could to get away; and though they had
shot half the feathers out of their wings, they were soon seen
skimming among the clouds, a long distance off and looking like a
flock of wild geese. Orpheus celebrated this victory by playing a
triumphant anthem on his harp, and sang so melodiously that Jason
begged him to desist, lest, as the steel-feathered birds had been
driven away by an ugly sound, they might be enticed back again by a
sweet one.

While the Argonauts remained on this island they saw a small vessel
approaching the shore, in which were two young men of princely
demeanor, and exceedingly handsome, as young princes generally were in
those days. Now, who do you imagine these two voyagers turned out to
be? Why, if you will believe me, they were the sons of that very
Phrixus, who in his childhood had been carried to Colchis on the back
of the golden-fleeced ram. Since that time Phrixus had married the
king's daughter, and the two young princes had been born and brought
up at Colchis, and had spent their play days on the outskirts of the
grove, in the center of which the Golden Fleece was hanging upon a
tree. They were now on their way to Greece, in hopes of getting back
a kingdom that had been wrongfully taken from their father.

When the princes understood whither the Argonauts were going they
offered to turn back and guide them to Colchis. At the same time,
however, they spoke as if it were very doubtful whether Jason would
succeed in getting the Golden Fleece. According to their account, the
tree on which it hung was guarded by a terrible dragon, who never
failed to devour at one mouthful every person who might venture within
his reach.

"There are other difficulties in the way," continued the young
princes. "But is not this enough? Ah, brave Jason, turn back before it
is too late! It would grieve us to the heart if you and your
forty-nine brave companions should be eaten up, at fifty mouthfuls, by
this execrable dragon."

"My young friends," quietly replied Jason, "I do not wonder that you
think the dragon very terrible. You have grown up fro