wings, to others fur and claws, and to
others a hard shelly covering.

When he came to man he had no covering left.

Zeus said, "I will clothe man," and that is the reason his covering is
so delicate and beautiful.

Prometheus' people could not breathe.

Zeus sent him to AEolus, the god of the winds, for help.

AEolus sent his strong son, North Wind, back with Prometheus.

When North Wind saw the people of clay he whistled with surprise.

He blew his breath upon them.

They turned as white as snow and began to breathe.

They were a cold people, however, and Prometheus did not love them.

He went to AEolus again and this time South Wind and the zephyrs came
with him.

South Wind brought the people green grass and flowers and birds.

The zephyrs showed them how to laugh and cry and sing and dance.

But the people were stupid.

They lived like ants in dark caves.

Prometheus saw that there was only one thing which would help them.

That was _fire_.

Fire was the most precious thing Zeus had, and he kept it ever burning
around his throne.

When Prometheus asked for fire Zeus was angry.

"I have already given too much to your people," he said. "Let them now
help themselves."

Prometheus was sad, indeed.

He loved his people more than he did himself.

At last he said: "They shall have the fire. I will pay for it with my
life."

He went straight to Zeus' throne and filled a ferule with it, and
carried it to his people.

Then the people began to be wise.

He taught them to cook, and to build houses, and to sail their ships
upon the ocean.

He showed them how to get rich ores from the mountains and prepare them
for use.

They learned how to plow and to reap and to store up their food for the
winter.

Zeus was angry with Prometheus.

He chained him to a rock on the top of a high mountain.

He sent a great bird each day to torment him.

Zeus said that he must stay there until he repented and returned the
fire to heaven.

There Prometheus stayed and suffered for many burning summers and long,
cold winters.

Sometimes he grew faint-hearted and wished to be free.

Then he looked down and saw how the fire was helping the people and how
happy they were, and he grew strong again.

After many, many years, a Greek hero who was sailing over the mountain
in a golden cup, saw Prometheus.

It was Hercules. He shot the bird with a golden arrow, unbound the
chains and set the wise Prometheus fr