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began to wind it as he had wound the other thread on his way down。 On he
went； through passage after passage； through chamber after chamber。 His
mind was dizzy； and he had little thought for the way he was going。 His
wounds and the chill that the monster had breathed into him and his horror
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of the fearful and bloodless thing made his mind almost forsake him。 He
kept the thread in his hand and he wound it as he went on through the
labyrinth。 He stumbled and the thread broke。 He went on for a few steps
and then he went back to find the thread that had fallen out of his hands。 In
an instant he was in a part of the labyrinth that he had not been in before。
He walked a long way； and then he came on his own footmarks as they
crossed themselves in the dust。 He pushed open a door and came into the
air。 He was now by the outside wall of the palace； and he saw birds flying
by him。 He leant against the wall of the palace； thinking that he would
strive no more to find his way through the labyrinth。
V
That day the youths and maidens of Athens were brought through the
labyrinth and to the hall where the Minotaur was。 They went through the
passages weeping and lamenting。 Some cried out for Theseus； and some
said that Theseus had deserted
them。 The heavy door was opened。 Then those who were with the
youths and maidens saw the Minotaur lying stark and stiff with Theseus's
sword through its neck。 They shouted and blew trumpets and the noise of
their trumpets filled the labyrinth。 Then they turned back； bringing the
youths and maidens with them； and a whisper went through the whole
palace that the Minotaur had been slain。 The youths and maidens were
lodged in the chamber where Minos gave his judgments。
VI
Theseus； wearied and overcome； fell into a deep sleep by the wall of
the palace。 He awakened with a feeling that the claw of the Minotaur was
upon him。 There were stars in the sky above the high palace wall； and he
saw a dark…robed and ancient man standing beside him。 Theseus knew that
this was Daedalus； the builder of the palace and the labyrinth。 Daedalus
called and a slim youth came Icarus； the son of Daedalus。 Minos had set
father and son apart from the rest of the palace； and Theseus had come
near the place where they were confined。 Icarus came and brought him to
a winding stairway and showed him a way to go。
A dark…faced servant met and looked him full in the face。 Then； as if
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he knew that Theseus was the one whom he had been searching for； he led
him into a little chamber where there were three maidens。 One started up
and came to him quickly； and Theseus again saw Ariadne。
She hid him in the chamber of the palace where her singing birds were；
and she would come and sit beside him； asking about his own country and
telling him that she would go with him there。 〃I showed you how you
might come to the Minotaur；〃 she said； 〃and you went there and you slew
the monster； and now I may not stay in my father's palace。〃
And Theseus thought all the time of his return； and of how he might
bring the youths and maidens of Athens back to their own people。 For
Ariadne； that strange princess； was not dear to him as Medea was dear to
Jason； or Atalanta the Huntress to young Meleagrus。
One sunset she led him to a roof of the palace and she showed him the
harbor with the ships； and she showed him the ship with the black sail that
had brought him to Knossos。 She told him she would take him aboard that
ship； and that the youths and maidens of Athens could go with them。 She
would bring to the master of the ship the seal of King Minos； and the
master； seeing it； would set sail for whatever place Theseus desired to go。
Then did she become dear to Theseus because of her great kindness；
and he kissed her eyes and swore that he would not go from the palace
unless she would come with him to his own country。 The strange princess
smiled and wept as if she doubted what he said。 Nevertheless； she led him
from the roof and down into one of the palace gardens。 He waited there；
and the youths and maidens of Athens were led into the garden； all
wearing cloaks that hid their forms and faces。 Young Icarus led them from
the grounds of the palace and down to the ships。 And Ariadne went with
them； bringing with her the seal of her father； King Minos。
And when they came on board of the black…sailed ship they showed
the seal to the master； Nausitheus； and the master of the ship let the sail
take the breeze of the evening； and so Theseus went away from Crete。
VII
To the Island of Naxos they sailed。 And when they reached that place
the master of the ship； thinking that what had been done was not in
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accordance with the will of King Minos； stayed the ship there。 He waited
until other ships came from Knossos。 And when they came they brought
word that Minos would not slay nor demand back Theseus nor the youths
and maidens of Athens。 His daughter； Ariadne； he would have back； to
reign with him over Crete。
Then Ariadne left the black…sailed ship； and went back to Crete from
Naxos。 Theseus let the princess go； although he might have struggled to
hold her。 But more strange than dear did Ariadne remain to Theseus。
And all this time his father； Aegeus； stayed on the tower of his palace；
watching for the return of the ship that had sailed for Knossos。 The life of
the king wasted since the departure of Theseus； and now it was but a
thread。 Every day he watched for the return of the ship； hoping against
hope that Theseus would return alive to him。 Then a ship came into the
harbor。 It had black sails。 IF…geus did not know that Theseus was aboard
of it； and that Theseus in the hurry of his flight and in the sadness of his
parting from Ariadne had not thought of taking out the white sail that his
father had given to Nausitheus。
Joyously Theseus sailed into the harbor； having slain the Minotaur and
lifted for ever