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with his leopard's skin and his golden…tied sandals； and what heroic deeds
he meant to perform； with a spear in his right hand and another in his left。
I know not how far Jason had traveled； when he came to a turbulent
river； which rushed right across his pathway； with specks of white foam
among its black eddies； hurrying tumultuously onward； and roaring
angrily as it went。 Though not a very broad river in the dry seasons of the
year； it was now swollen by heavy rains and by the melting of the snow on
the sides of Mount Olympus； and it thundered so loudly； and looked so
wild and dangerous； that Jason； bold as he was； thought it prudent to pause
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upon the brink。 The bed of the stream seemed to be strewn with sharp and
rugged rocks； some of which thrust themselves above the water。 By and by；
an uprooted tree； with shattered branches； came drifting along the current；
and got entangled among the rocks。 Now and then； a drowned sheep； and
once the carcass of a cow； floated past。
In short； the swollen river had already done a great deal of mischief。 It
was evidently too deep for Jason to wade； and too boisterous for him to
swim； he could see no bridge； and as for a boat； had there been any； the
rocks would have broken it to pieces in an instant。
〃See the poor lad；〃 said a cracked voice close to his side。 〃He must
have had but a poor education； since he does not know how to cross a little
stream like this。 Or is he afraid of wetting his fine golden…stringed sandals？
It is a pity his four…footed schoolmaster is not here to carry him safely
across on his back！〃
Jason looked round greatly surprised； for he did not know that
anybody was near。 But beside him stood an old woman； with a ragged
mantle over her head； leaning on a staff； the top of which was carved into
the shape of a cuckoo。 She looked very aged； and wrinkled； and infirm；
and yet her eyes； which were as brown as those of an ox； were so
extremely large and beautiful； that； when they were fixed on Jason's eyes；
he could see nothing else but them。 The old woman had a pomegranate in
her hand； although the fruit was then quite out of season。
〃Whither are you going； Jason？〃 she now asked。
She seemed to know his name； you will observe； and； indeed； those
great brown eyes looked as if they had a knowledge of everything；
whether past or to come。 While Jason was gazing at her； a peacock strutted
forward； and took his stand at the old woman's side。
〃I am going to Iolchos；〃 answered the young man； 〃to bid the wicked
King Pelias come down from my father's throne； and let me reign in his
stead。〃
〃Ah； well； then；〃 said the old woman； still with the same cracked voice；
〃if that is all your business； you need not be in a very great hurry。 Just take
me on your back； there's a good youth； and carry me across the river。 I and
my peacock have something to do on the other side； as well as yourself。〃
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〃Good mother；〃 replied Jason； 〃your business can hardly be so
important as the pulling down a king from his throne。 Besides； as you may
see for yourself； the river is very boisterous； and if I should chance to
stumble； it would sweep both of us away more easily than it has carried
off yonder uprooted tree。 I would gladly help you if I could； but I doubt
whether I am strong enough to carry you across。〃
〃Then；〃 said she； very scornfully； 〃neither are you strong enough to
pull King Pelias off his throne。 And； Jason； unless you will help an old
woman at her need； you ought not to be a king。 What are kings made for；
save to succor the feeble and distressed？ But do as you please。 Either take
me on your back； or with my poor old limbs I shall try my best to struggle
across the stream。〃
Saying this； the old woman poked with her staff in the river； as if to
find the safest place in its rocky bed where she might make the first step。
But Jason； by this time； had grown ashamed of his reluctance to help her。
He felt that he could never forgive himself； if this poor feeble creature
should come to any harm in attempting to wrestle against the headlong
current。 The good Chiron； whether half horse or no； had taught him that
the noblest use of his strength was to assist the weak； and also that he must
treat every young woman as if she were his sister； and every old one like a
mother。 Remembering these maxims； the vigorous and beautiful young
man knelt down； and requested the good dame to mount upon his back。
〃The passage seems to me not very safe；〃 he remarked。 〃But as your
business is so urgent； I will try to carry you across。 If the river sweeps you
away； it shall take me too。〃 〃That； no doubt； will be a great comfort to
both of us；〃 quoth the old woman。 〃But never fear。 We shall get safely
across。〃
So she threw her arms around Jason's neck； and lifting her from the
ground； he stepped boldly into the raging and foaming current； and began
to stagger away from the shore。 As for the peacock； it alighted on the old
dame's shoulder。 Jason's two spears； one in each hand； kept him from
stumbling； and enabled him to feel his way among the hidden rocks；
although every instant； he expected that his companion and himself would
go down the stream； together with the driftwood of shattered trees； and the
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carcasses of the sheep and cow。 Down came the cold； snowy torrent from
the steep side of Olympus； raging and thundering as if it had a real spite
against Jason； or； at all events； were determined to snatch off his living
burden from his shoulders。 When he was half way across； the uprooted
tree （which I have already told you about） broke loose from among the
rocks； and bore down upon him； with all its splintered branches sticking
out like the hundred arms of the giant Briareus。 It rushed past； however；
without touching him。 But the next moment his foot was caught in a
crevice between two rocks； and stuck there so fast； that； in the effort to get
free； he lost one of his golden…stringed sandals。
At this accident Jason could not help uttering a cry of vexation。
〃What is the matter； Jason？〃 asked the old woman。
〃Matter enough；〃 said the young man。 〃I have lost a sandal here
among the rocks。 And what sort of a figure shall I cut； at the court of King
Pelias； with a golden…stringed sandal on one foot； and the other foot bare！〃
〃Do not take it to heart；〃 answered his companion cheerily。 〃You never
met with better fortune than in losing that sandal。 It satisfies me that you
are the very person whom the Speaking Oak has been talking about。〃
There was no time； just then； to inquire what the Speaking Oak had
said。 But the briskness of her tone encouraged the young man； and；
besides； he had never in his life felt so vigorous and mighty as since taking
this old woman on his back。 Instead of being exhausted； he gathered
strength as he went on； and； struggling up against the torrent； he at last
gained the opposite shore； clambered up the bank； and set down the old
dame and her peacock safely on the grass。 As soon as this was done；
however； he could not help looking rather despondently at his bare foot；
with only a remnant of the golden string of the sandal clinging round his
ankle。
〃You will get a handsomer pair of sandals by and by；〃 said the old
woman； with a kindly look out of her beautiful brown eyes。 〃Only let King
Pelias get a glimpse of that bare foot； and you shall see him turn as pale as
ashes； I promise you。 There is your path。 Go along； my good Jason； and
my blessing go with you。 And when you sit on your throne remember the
old woman whom you helped over the river。〃
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