iakians in the morning and King
Alkinoos came forward to meet them.

They soon saw that he alone was more powerful than their entire army.

He was dressed in armor so bright that it dazzled their eyes to look at
it. It was covered with millions of golden arrows tipped with diamonds.
The king showed the frightened people how he could shoot the arrows in
all directions at the same time.

The dark people trembled with fear, but King Alkinoos smiled at them,
and then he and his people sailed slowly away toward the West.

On and on they went, until they came to a great silver sea.

Here they stopped and built a palace for their king.

This palace was made of silver and gold and precious stones.

Its towers were rose color and shone with a wonderful light.

Its steps were of pure gold.

On each side of the silver gates were huge dogs which guarded the
palace.

There were boys in the halls dressed in white, holding burning torches.

There were girls weaving wonderful curtains and painting pictures upon
the walls.

There were mountains and fountains, and rivers and lakes.

There were singing birds and flower gardens, and little children
everywhere.

Even to this day, the great king often sits in his palace in the West
when his day's work is done.

He loves to see the people glide about upon the silver sea, in their
ships without rudders or sails.

The fierce, dark people still go to war.

They seldom let the gentle king see them fighting.

Yet often after a brave battle, Alkinoos comes out of his palace and
smiles brightly upon them. The dark people blush and seem to smile at
the king.

You must find out how much good these dark people do and how the King of
the Phaiakians helps them in their work, if you wish to understand their
friendship.

[Illustration]

PHAETHON.

Phaethon was the son of Helios, who drove the chariot of the sun. He
lived with his mother, the gentle Clymene, in a beautiful valley in the
east.

One day when Phaethon was telling his companions about his father, the
sky king, they laughed and said, "How do you know that Helios is your
father? You have never seen him. If, as you say, he cannot safely come
nearer to the earth, why do you not sometimes go to his land."

Phaethon answered, "My father's throne is far away from this valley. My
mother has promised that when I am stronger, I shall go to my father's
palace. I often watch his golden chariot roll by in its path and