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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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With these words； she hobbled away； giving him a smile over her
shoulder as she departed。
Whether the light of her beautiful brown eyes threw a glory round
about her； or whatever the cause might be； Jason fancied that there was
something very noble and majestic in her figure； after all； and that； though
her gait seemed to be a rheumatic hobble； yet she moved with as much
grace and dignity as any queen on earth。 Her peacock； which had now
fluttered down from her shoulder； strutted behind her in a prodigious
pomp； and spread out its magnificent tail on purpose for Jason to admire
it。
When the old dame and her peacock were out of sight； Jason set
forward on his journey。 After traveling a pretty long distance； he came to a
town situated at the foot of a mountain； and not a great way from the shore
of the sea。 On the outside of the town there was an immense crowd of
people； not only men and women； but children too； all in their best clothes；
and evidently enjoying a holiday。 The crowd was thickest towards the sea…
shore； and in that direction； over the people's heads； Jason saw a wreath of
smoke curling upward to the blue sky。 He inquired of one of the multitude
what town it was near by； and why so many persons were here assembled
together。
〃This is the kingdom of Iolchos；〃 answered the man； 〃and we are the
subjects of King Pelias。 Our monarch has summoned us together； that
we may see him sacrifice a black bull to Neptune； who； they say； is his
majesty's father。 Yonder is the king； where you see the smoke going up
from the altar。〃
While the man spoke he eyed Jason with great curiosity； for his garb
was quite unlike that of the Iolchians； and it looked very odd to see a
youth with a leopard's skin over his shoulders； and each hand grasping a
spear。 Jason perceived； too； that the man stared particularly at his feet； one
of which； you remember； was bare； while the other was decorated with his
father's golden…stringed sandal。
〃Look at him！ only look at him！〃 said the man to his next neighbor。
〃Do you see？ He wears but one sandal！〃
Upon this； first one person； and then another； began to stare at Jason；
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and everybody seemed to be greatly struck with something in his aspect；
though they turned their eyes much oftener towards his feet than to any
other part of his figure。 Besides； he could hear them whispering to one
another。
〃One sandal！ One sandal！〃 they kept saying。 〃The man with one sandal！
Here he is at last！ Whence has he come？ What does he mean to do？ What
will the king say to the one…sandaled man？〃
Poor Jason was greatly abashed； and made up his mind that the people
of Iolchos were exceedingly ill…bred； to take such public notice of an
accidental deficiency in his dress。 Meanwhile； whether it were that they
hustled him forward； or that Jason； of his own accord； thrust a passage
through the crowd； it so happened that he soon found himself close to the
smoking altar； where King Pelias was sacrificing the black bull。 The
murmur and hum of the multitude； in their surprise at the spectacle of
Jason with his one bare foot； grew so loud that it disturbed the ceremonies；
and the king； holding the great knife with which he was just going to cut
the bull's throat； turned angrily about； and fixed his eyes on Jason。 The
people h