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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 had now withdrawn from around him； so that the youth stood in an
open space； near the smoking altar； front to front with the angry King
Pelias。
〃Who are you？〃 cried the king； with a terrible frown。 〃And how dare
you make this disturbance； while I am sacrificing a black bull to my father
Neptune？〃
〃It is no fault of mine；〃 answered Jason。 〃Your majesty must blame the
rudeness of your subjects； who have raised all this tumult because one of
my feet happens to be bare。〃
When Jason said this； the king gave a quick startled glance down at his
feet。
〃Ha！〃 muttered he； 〃here is the one…sandaled fellow； sure enough！
What can I do with him？〃
And he clutched more closely the great knife in his hand； as if he were
half a mind to slay Jason； instead of the black bull。 The people round
about caught up the king's words； indistinctly as they were uttered； and
first there was a murmur amongst them； and then a loud shout。
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〃The one…sandaled man has come！ The prophecy must be fulfilled！〃
For you are to know； that； many years before； King Pelias had been
told by the Speaking Oak of Dodona； that a man with one sandal should
cast him down from his throne。 On this account； he had given strict orders
that nobody should ever come into his presence； unless both sandals were
securely tied upon his feet； and he kept an officer in his palace； whose sole
business it was to examine people's sandals； and to supply them with a
new pair； at the expense of the royal treasury； as soon as the old ones
began to wear out。 In the whole course of the king's reign； he had never
been thrown into such a fright and agitation as by the spectacle of poor
Jason's bare foot。 But； as he was naturally a bold and hard…hearted man； he
soon took courage； and began to consider in what way he might rid
himself of this terrible one…sandaled stranger。
〃My good young man；〃 said King Pelias； taking the softest tone
imaginable； in order to throw Jason off his guard； 〃you are excessively
welcome to my kingdom。 Judging by your dress； you must have traveled a
long distance； for it is not the fashion to wear leopard skins in this part of
the world。 Pray what may I call your name？ and where did you receive
your education？〃
〃My name is Jason；〃 answered the young stranger。 〃Ever since my
infancy； I have dwelt in the cave of Chiron the Centaur。 He was my
instructor； and taught me music； and horsemanship； and how to cure
wounds； and likewise how to inflict wounds with my weapons！〃
〃I have heard of Chiron the schoolmaster；〃 replied King Pelias； 〃and
how that there is an immense deal of learning and wisdom in his head；
although it happens to be set on a horse's body。 It gives me great delight to
see one of his scholars at my court。 But to test how much you have
profited under so excellent a teacher； will you allow me to ask you a single
question？〃
〃I do not pretend to be very wise；〃 said Jason。 〃But ask me what you
please； and I will answer to the best of my ability。〃
Now King Pelias meant cunningly to entrap the young man； and to
make him say something that should be the cause of mischief and
distraction to himself。 So； with a crafty and evil smile upon his face； he
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spoke as follows：
〃What would you do； brave Jason；〃 asked he； 〃if there were a man in
the world； by whom； as you had reason to believe； you were doomed to be
ruined and slainwhat would you do； I say； if that man stood before you；
and in your power？〃
When Jason saw the malice and wickedness which King Pelias could
not prevent from gleaming out of his eyes； he probably guessed that the
king had discovered what he came for； and that he intended to turn his
own words against himself。 Still he scorned to tell a falsehood。 Like an
upright and honorable prince as he was； he determined to speak out the
real truth。 Since the king had chosen to ask him the question； and since
Jason had promised him an answer； there was no right way save to tell him
precisely what would be the mo