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Hylas tighter； tighter； the water bubbled around him as they drew him
down。 Down； down they drew him；and into the cold and glimmering cave
where they live。
There Hylas stayed。 But although the nymphs kissed him and sang to
him； and showed him lovely things； Hylas was not content to be there。
Where the Argonauts were the fires burned； the moon arose； and still
Hylas did not return。 Then they began to fear lest a wild beast had
destroyed the boy。 One went to Heracles and told him that young Hylas
had not come back； and that they were fearful for him。 Heracles flung
down the pine tree that he was fashioning into an oar； and he dashed along
the way that Hylas had gone as if a gadfly were stinging him。 〃Hylas；
Hylas；〃 he cried。 But Hylas； in the cold and glimmering cave that the
nymphs had drawn him into； did not hear the call of his friend Heracles。
All the Argonauts went searching； calling as they went through the
island； 〃Hylas； Hylas； Hylas！〃 But only their own calls came back to them。
The morning star came up； and Tiphys； the steersman； called to them from
the Argo。 And when they came to the ship Tiphys told them that they
would have to go aboard and make ready to sail from that place。
They called to Heracles； and Heracles at last came down to the ship。
They spoke to him； saying that they would have to sail away。 Heracles
would not go on board。 〃I will not leave this island；〃 he said； 〃until I find
young Hylas or learn what has happened to him。〃
Then Jason arose to give the command to depart。 But before the words
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THE GOLDEN FLEECE AND THE HEROES WHO LIVED BEFORE ACHILLES
were said Telamon stood up and faced him。 〃Jason；〃 he said angrily； 〃you
do not bid Heracles come on board； and you would have the Argo leave
without him。 You would leave Heracles here so that he may not be with us
on the quest where his glory might overshadow your glory； Jason。〃
Jason said no word； but he sat back on his bench with head bowed。
And then； even as Telamon said these angry words； a strange figure rose
up out of the waves of the sea。
It was the figure of a man； wrinkled and old； with seaweed in his beard
and his hair。 There was a majesty about him； and the Argonauts all knew
that this was one of the immortalshe was Nereus； the ancient one of the
sea。
〃To Heracles； and to you； the rest of the Argonauts； I have a thing to
say；〃 said the ancient one； Nereus。 〃Know； first； that Hylas has been taken
by the nymphs who love him and who think to win his love； and that he
will stay forever with them in their cold and glimmering cave。 For Hylas
seek no more。 And to you； Heracles； I will say this： Go aboard the Argo
again； the ship will take you to where a great labor awaits you； and which；
in accomplishing； you will work out the will of Zeus。 You will know what
this labor is when a spirit seizes on you。〃 So the ancient one of the sea said；
and he sank back beneath the waves。
Heracles went aboard the Argo once more； and he took his place on the
bench； the new oar in his hand。 Sad he was to think that young Hylas who
used to sit at his knee would never be there again。 The breeze filled the
sail； the Argonauts pulled at the oars； and in sadness they watched the
island where young Hylas had been lost to them recede from their view。
VII。 KING PHINEUS
Said Tiphys； the steersman： 〃If we could enter the Sea of Pontus； we
could make our way across that sea to Colchis in a short time。 But the
passage into the Sea of Pontus is most perilous； and few mortals dare even
to make approach to it。〃
Said Jason； the chieftain of the host： 〃The dangers of the passage；
Tiphys； we have spoken of； and it may be that we shall have to carry Argo
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THE GOLDEN FLEECE AND THE HEROES WHO LIVED BEFORE ACHILLES
overland to the Sea of Pontus。 But You； Tiphys； have spoken of a wise
king who is hereabouts； and who might help us to make the dangerous
passage。 Speak again to us； and tell us what the dangers of the passage are；
and who the king is who may be able to help us to make these dangers
less。〃
Then said Tiphys； the steersman of the Argo： 〃No ship sailed by
mortals has as yet gone through the passage that brings this sea into the
Sea of Pontus。 In the way are the rocks that mariners call The Clashers。
These rocks are not fixed as rocks should be； but they rush one against the
other； dashing up the sea； and crushing whatever may be between。 Yea； if
Argo were of iron； and if she were between these rocks when they met；
she would be crushed to bits。 I have sailed as far as that passage； but
seeing The Clashers strike together I turned back my ship； and journeyed
as far as the Sea of Pontus overland。
〃But I have been told of one who knows how a ship may be taken
through the passage that The Clashers make so perilous。 He who knows is
a king hereabouts； Phineus； who has made himself as wise as the gods。 To
no one has Phineus told how the passage may be made； but knowing what
high favor has been shown to us； the Argonauts； it may be that he will tell
us。〃
So Tiphys said； and Jason commanded him to steer the Argo toward
the city where ruled Phineus； the wise king。
To Salmydessus； then； where Phineus ruled； Tiphys steered the Argo。
They left Heracles with Tiphys aboard to guard the ship； and； with the rest
of the heroes； Jason went through the streets of the city。 They met many
men； but when they asked any of them how they might come to the palace
of King Phineus the men turned fearfully away。
They found their way to the king's palace。 Jason spoke to the servants
and bade them tell the king of their coming。 The servants； too； seemed
fearful； and as Jason and his comrades were wondering what there was
about him that made men fearful at his name； Phineus； the king； came
amongst them。
Were it not that he had a purple border to his robe no one would have
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known him for the king； so miserable did this man seem。 He crept along；
touching the walls； for the eyes in his head were blind and withered。 His
body was shrunken； and