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In order to make the time pass away more pleasantly during the voyage； the heroes talked about the Golden Fleece。 It originally belonged； it appears； to a Boeotian ram； who had taken on his back two children； when in danger of their lives； and fled with them over land and sea as far as Colchis。 One of the children； whose name was Helle； fell into the sea and was drowned。 But the other （a little boy； named Phrixus） was brought safe ashore by the faithful ram； who； however； was so exhausted that he immediately lay down and died。 In memory of this good deed； and as a token of his true heart； the fleece of the poor dead ram was miraculously changed to gold； and became one of the most beautiful objects ever seen on earth。 It was hung upon a tree in a sacred grove； where it had now been kept I know not how many years； and was the envy of mighty kings； who had nothing so magnificent in any of their palaces。
If I were to tell you all the adventures of the Argonauts； it would take me till nightfall； and perhaps a great deal longer。 There was no lack of wonderful events； as you may judge from what you have already heard。 At a certain island； they were hospitably received by King Cyzicus； its sovereign； who made a feast for them； and treated them like brothers。 But the Argonauts saw that this good king looked downcast and very much troubled； and they therefore inquired of him what was the matter。 King Cyzicus hereupon informed them that he and his subjects were greatly abused and incommoded by the inhabitants of a neighboring mountain； who made war upon them； and killed many people； and ravaged the country。 And while they were talking about it； Cyzicus pointed to the mountain； and asked Jason and his companions what they saw there。
〃I see some very tall objects；〃 answered Jason； 〃but they are at such a distance that I cannot distinctly make out what they are。 To tell your majesty the truth； they look so very strangely that I am inclined to think them clouds； which have chanced to take something like human shapes。〃
〃I see them very plainly；〃 remarked Lynceus； whose eyes； you know； were as far…sighted as a telescope。 〃They are a band of enormous giants； all of whom have six arms apiece； and a club； a sword； or some other weapon in each of their hands。〃
〃You have excellent eyes；〃 said King Cyzicus。 〃Yes； they are six…armed giants； as you say； and these are the enemies whom I and my subjects have to contend with。〃
The next day； when the Argonauts were about setting sail； down came these terrible giants； stepping a hundred yards at a stride； brandishing their six arms apiece； and looking formidable； so far aloft in the air。 Each of these monsters was able to carry on a whole war by himself； for with one arm he could fling immense stones； and wield a club with another； and a sword with a third； while the fourth was poking a long spear at the enemy； and the fifth and sixth were shooting him with a bow and arrow。 But； luckily； though the giants were so huge； and had so many arms； they had each but one heart； and that no bigger nor braver than the heart of an ordinary man。 Besides； if they had been like the hundred…armed Briareus； the brave Argonauts would have given them their hands full of fight。 Jason and his friends went boldly to meet them； slew a great many； and made the rest take to their heels； so that if the giants had had six legs apiece instead of six arms； it would have served them better to run away with。
Another strange adventure happened when the voyagers came to Thrace； where they found a poor blind king； named Phineus； deserted by his subjects； and living in a very sorrowful way； all by himself： On Jason's inquiring whether they could do him any service； the king answered that he was terribly tormented by three great winged creatures； called Harpies； which had the faces of women； and the wings； bodies； and claws of vultures。 These ugly wretches were in the habit of snatching away his dinner； and allowed him no peace of his life。 Upon hearing this； the Argonauts spread a plentiful feast on the sea…shore； well knowing； from what the blind king said of their greediness； that the Harpies would snuff up the scent of the victuals； and quickly come to steal them away。 And so it turned out； for； hardly was the table set； before the three hideous vulture women came flapping their wings； seized the food in their talons； and flew off as fast as they could。 But the two sons of the North Wind drew their swords； spread their pinions； and set off through the air in pursuit of the thieves； whom they at last overtook among some islands； after a chase of hundreds of miles。 The two winged youths blustered terribly at the Harpies （for they had the rough temper of their father）； and so frightened them with their drawn swords； that they solemnly promised never to trouble King Phineus again。
Then the Argonauts sailed onward and met with many other marvelous incidents； any one of which would make a story by itself。 At one time they landed on an island； and were reposing on the grass； when they suddenly found themselves assailed by what seemed a shower of steel…headed arrows。 Some of them stuck in the ground； while others hit against their shields； and several penetrated their flesh。 The fifty heroes started up； and looked about them for the hidden enemy； but could find none； nor see any spot； on the whole island； where even a single archer could lie concealed。 Still； however； the steel…headed arrows came whizzing among them； and； at last； happening to look upward； they beheld a large flock of birds； hovering and wheeling aloft； and shooting their feathers down upon the Argonauts。 These feathers were the steel…headed arrows that had so tormented them。 There was no possibility of making any resistance； and the fifty heroic Argonauts might all have been killed or wounded by a flock of troublesome birds； without ever setting eyes on the Golden Fleece； if Jason had not thought of asking the advice of the oaken image。
So he ran to the galley as fast as his legs would carry him。
〃O； daughter of the Speaking Oak；〃 cried he； all out of breath； 〃we need your wisdom more than ever before！ We are in great peril from a flock of birds； who are shooting us with their steel…pointed feathers。 What can we do to drive them away？〃
〃Make a clatter on your shields；〃 said the image。
On receiving this excellent counsel； Jason hurried back to his companions （who were far more dismayed than when they fought with the six…armed giants）； and bade them strike with their swords upon their brazen shields。 Forthwith the fifty heroes set heartily to work； banging with might and main； and raised such a terrible clatter； that the birds made what haste they could to get away； and though they had shot half the feathers out of their wings； they were soon seen skimming among the clouds； a long distance off； and looking like a flock of wild geese。 Orpheus celebrated this victory by playing a triumphant anthem on his harp； and sang so melodiously that Jason begged him to desist； lest； as the steel…feathered birds had been driven away by an ugly sound； they might be enticed back again by a sweet one。
While the Argonauts remained on this island； they saw a small vessel approaching the shore； in which were two young men of princely demeanor； and exceedingly handsome； as young princes generally were； in those days。 Now； who do you imagine these two voyagers turned out to be？ Why； if you will believe me； they were the sons of that very Phrixus； who； in his childhood； had been carried to Colchis on the back of the golden…fleeced ram。 Since that time； Phrixus had married the king's daughter； and the two young princes had been born and brought up at Colchis； and had spent their play…days in the outskirts of the grove； in the center of which the Golden Fleece was hanging upon a tree。 They were now on their way to Greece； in hopes of getting back a kingdom that had been wrongfully taken from their father。
When the princes understood whither the Argonauts were going； they offered to turn back； and guide them to Colchis。 At the same time； however； they spoke as if it were very doubtful whether Jason would succeed in getting the Golden Fleece。 According to their account； the tree on which it hung was guarded by a terrible dragon； who never failed to devour； at one mouthful； every person who might venture within his reach。
〃There are other difficulties in the way；〃 continued the young princes。 〃But is not this enough？ Ah； brave Jason； turn back before it is too late。 It would grieve us to the heart； if you and your nine and forty brave companions should be eaten up； at fifty mouthfuls； by this execrable dragon。〃
〃My young friends；〃 quietly replied Jason； 〃I do not wonder that you think the dragon very terrible。 You have grown up from infancy in the fear of this monster； and therefore still regard him with the awe that children feel for the bugbears and hobgoblins which their nurses have talked to them about。 But； in my view of the matter； the dragon is merely a pretty large serpent； who is not half so likely to snap me up at one mouthful as I am to cut off his ugly head； and strip the skin from his body。 At all events； turn back who may； I will never see Greece again； unles