m infancy in the
fear of this monster, and therefore still regard him with the awe that
children feel for the bugbears and hobgoblins which their nurses have
talked to them about. But in my view of the matter, the dragon is
merely a pretty large serpent who is not half so likely to snap me up
at one mouthful as I am to cut off his ugly head and strip the skin
from his body. At all events, turn back who may, I will never see
Greece again unless I carry with me the Golden Fleece."

"We will none of us turn back!" cried his forty-nine brave comrades.
"Let us get on board the galley this instant, and if the dragon is to
make a breakfast of us, much good may it do him."

And Orpheus (whose custom it was to set everything to music) began to
harp and sing most gloriously, and made every mother's son of them
feel as if nothing in this world were so delectable as to fight
dragons and nothing so truly honorable as to be eaten up at one
mouthful, in case of the worst.

After this (being now under the guidance of the two princes, who were
well acquainted with the way) they quickly sailed to Colchis. When the
king of the country, whose name was AEetes, heard of their arrival, he
instantly summoned Jason to court. The king was a stern and
cruel-looking potentate, and though he put on as polite and hospitable
an expression as he could, Jason did not like his face a whit better
than that of the wicked King Pelias, who dethroned his father.

"You are welcome, brave Jason," said King AEetes. "Pray, are you on a
pleasure voyage?--or do you meditate the discovery of unknown
islands?--or what other cause has procured me the happiness of seeing
you at my court?"

"Great sir," replied Jason, with an obeisance--for Chiron had taught
him how to behave with propriety, whether to kings or beggars--"I have
come hither with a purpose which I now beg your majesty's permission
to execute. King Pelias, who sits on my father's throne (to which he
has no more right than to the one on which your excellent majesty is
now seated), has engaged to come down from it and to give me his crown
and scepter, provided I bring him the Golden Fleece. This, as your
majesty is aware, is now hanging on a tree here at Colchis; and I
humbly solicit your gracious leave to take it away."

In spite of himself, the king's face twisted itself into an angry
frown; for, above all things else in the world, he prized the Golden
Fleece, and was even suspected of having done