Bare thy head, and state thy cause, and, if thou hast suffered aught unjustly, thou shalt be avenged."

But for all answer Ja'son turned to those around, saying:

"Ye hear the words of him whom ye have called your king. From his own mouth let him be judged. For 'son is your rightful ruler, whom the treacherous Pe'lias has driven from his throne. But I am Ja'son, E'son's son, whom yon usurper and yourselves have long thought dead, and I have come to claim my father's rights."

The people looked to see what answer Pe'lias would make, but he was white with terror; for in the youth before him he saw at last his worst fears realized. He was the man with one sandal.

CHAPTER VII.

A CHAPTER OF HEROES.

He in whose cause the Grecian chiefs conspire
Is valiant Ja'son, Æ'son is his sire.

The rest that visit your august abodes,

Are all the sons or grandsons of the gods.

APOLLONIUS RHODIUS.

Translated by Fawkes.1

THOUSAND

thoughts

flashed through the mind of Pelias in one short breath, but he quickly regained his composure and muttered: "What I have gained by force, I'll hold by fraud!"

So the people only saw a smile o'erspread his face, as, rising from his

seat, he grasped his new-found nephew by the

hand and cried :

1 Appendix, Note 12.

"And art thou really flesh and blood? Ma Dia! But I and all thy kinsfolk thought thee dead, and mourned for thee as such, lo, many years agone. What wonder, then, thy unexpected coming drove the red blood back upon our hearts, as if a corpse had risen from its grave? For though we all, and I, the king, most frequently of all, have seen the restless ghost of Phrix'us in our dreams — a living, walking, talking ghost, at noon, inspires a graver fear.

"But yonder, there is one whose heart will throb with wilder joy than mine to see his son. And he will tell thee thou hast heard amiss, that of his own free will he gave the cares of government to me, that he might end his days in restful quiet. 'son! Brother! Come, see if thou dost recognize thy boy."

The crowd parted, and a gray-haired man came forward with a kingly tread. Although the words of Pe'lias were false, 'son did not then dispute him, but waited for a fitting time. But he caught Ja'son in his arms and wept for joy. Then the king led them to his palace, ordered

a great banquet to be prepared, and feasted them right royally.

And there the timid 'son, fearing lest the rashness of his son would bring him harm, confirmed the lie of Pe'lias, that he had given up the throne from choice.

"But," Pe'lias said, "I, too, am growing tired of care, and of the haunting shade of Phrix'us, which ceaselessly pursues me in my sleep, and cries, Recover the Golden Fleece, and give my spirit rest. Thou art the king.

6

Re

Send forth a band of heroes and remove the curse that rests upon thee and thy race.' main with me in the palace but half a year, and learn the ways of this peculiar people, and I will then give everything to thee. But, till the six months have elapsed, swear to me that thou wilt be a good and faithful subject."

To this proposal Ja'son readily agreed; and the king continued, "I wish to show that I have confidence in thee and in thy wisdom. I have told thee one source of my trouble, but there is another, greater far. Let us see if thou canst free me from it by thy good advice.

"An oracle has told me that my life is in danger from one of my subjects. Now, this man has never done me any harm: how shall I get rid of him without murder?"

While Ja'son pondered on the question, He'ra, although she was invisible to all, whispered the following reply into his ear; and he said to Pelias, quite ignorant that his words were an inspiration from the goddess, "I would make one trouble kill the other. Send him to fetch the Golden Fleece."

Pe'lias started from his seat with an oath, while in his eyes there gleamed a savage light.

"Ja'son, thou art too wise to live!" he almost shrieked. "Thou art the man! and thou thyself must fetch the Golden Fleece!"

When Ja'son knew the falsity of Pe'lias' heart, he muttered, "So the wise Cen'taur told me truly after all;" and for a moment he was tempted to strike the treacherous king to earth, and so fulfil the oracle upon the spot. But the last command of Chi'ron occurred to him,"Be true to thy word;" and, as he had sworn to