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their playfellow； for ever happy and young。 And Heracles sought for
him in vain； shouting his name till all the mountains rang； but Hylas
never heard him； far down under the sparkling lake。 So while Heracles
wandered searching for him； a fair breeze sprang up； and Heracles was
nowhere to be found； and the ARGO sailed away； and Heracles was left
behind； and never saw the noble Phasian stream。
Then the Minuai came to a doleful land； where Amycus the giant
ruled； and cared nothing for the laws of Zeus； but challenged all
strangers to box with him； and those whom he conquered he slew。 But
Polydeuces the boxer struck him a harder blow than he ever felt before；
and slew him； and the Minuai went on up the Bosphorus； till they came
to the city of Phineus； the fierce Bithynian king； for Zetes and Calais
bade Jason land there； because they had a work to do。
And they went up from the shore toward the city； through forests
white with snow； and Phineus came out to meet them with a lean and
woful face； and said； 'Welcome； gallant heroes； to the land of bitter
blasts； the land of cold and misery； yet I will feast you as best I can。'
And he led them in； and set meat before them； but before they could put
their hands to their mouths； down came two fearful monsters； the like
of whom man never saw； for they had the faces and the hair of fair
maidens； but the wings and claws of hawks； and they snatched the meat
from off the table； and flew shrieking out above the roofs。
Then Phineus beat his breast and cried； 'These are the Harpies；
whose names are the Whirlwind and the Swift； the daughters of Wonder
and of the Amber…nymph； and they rob us night and day。 They carried
off the daughters of Pandareus； whom all the Gods had blest； for
Aphrodite fed them on Olympus with honey and milk and wine； and
Hera gave them beauty and wisdom； and Athene skill in all the arts； but
when they came to their wedding； the Harpies snatched them both
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away； and gave them to be slaves to the Erinnues； and live in horror all
their days。 And now they haunt me； and my people； and the Bosphorus；
with fearful storms； and sweep away our food from off our tables； so
that we starve in spite of all our wealth。'
Then up rose Zetes and Calais； the winged sons of the North… wind；
and said； 'Do you not know us； Phineus； and these wings which grow
upon our backs？' And Phineus hid his face in terror； but he answered
not a word。
'Because you have been a traitor； Phineus； the Harpies haunt you
night and day。 Where is Cleopatra our sister； your wife； whom you
keep in prison？ and where are her two children； whom you blinded in
your rage； at the bidding of an evil woman； and cast them out upon the
rocks？ Swear to us that you will right our sister； and cast out that
wicked woman； and then we will free you from your plague； and drive
the whirlwind maidens to the south； but if not； we will put out your eyes；
as you put out the eyes of your own sons。'
Then Phineus swore an oath to them； and drove out the wicked
woman； and Jason took those two poor children； and cured their eyes
with magic herbs。
But Zetes and Calais rose up sadly and said； 'Farewell now； heroes
all； farewell； our dear companions； with whom we played on Pelion in
old times； for a fate is laid upon us； and our day is come at last； in which
we must hunt the whirlwinds over land and sea for ever； and if we catch
them they die； and if not； we die ourselves。'
At that all the heroes wept； but the two young men sprang up； and
aloft into the air after the Harpies； and the battle of the winds began。
The heroes trembled in silence as they heard the shrieking of the
blasts； while the palace rocked and all the city； and great stones were
torn from the crags； and the forest pines were hurled earthward； north
and south and east and west； and the Bosphorus boiled white with foam；
and the clouds were dashed against the cliffs。
But at last the battle ended； and the Harpies fled screaming toward
the south； and the sons of the North…wind rushed after them； and brought
clear sunshine where they passed。 For many a league they followed
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them； over all the isles of the Cyclades； and away to the south…west
across Hellas； till they came to the Ionian Sea； and there they fell upon
the Echinades； at the mouth of the Achelous； and those isles were
called the Whirlwind Isles for many a hundred years。 But what became
of Zetes and Calais I know not； for the heroes never saw them again：
and some say that Heracles met them； and quarrelled with them； and
slew them with his arrows； and some say that they fell down from
weariness and the heat of the summer sun； and that the Sun…god buried
them among the Cyclades； in the pleasant Isle of Tenos； and for many
hundred years their grave was shown there； and over it a pillar； which
turned to every wind。 But those dark storms and whirlwinds haunt the
Bosphorus until this day。
But the Argonauts went eastward； and out into the open sea； which
we now call the Black Sea； but it was called the Euxine then。 No
Hellen had ever crossed it； and all feared that dreadful sea； and its rocks；
and shoals； and fogs； and bitter freezing storms； and they told strange
stories of it； some false and some half…true； how it stretched northward
to the ends of the earth； and the sluggish Putrid Sea； and the
everlasting night； and the regions of the dead。 So the heroes trembled；
for all their courage； as they came into that wild Black Sea； and saw it
stretching out before them； without a shore； as far as eye could see。
And first Orpheus spoke； and warned them； 'We shall come now to
the wandering blue rocks； my mother warned me of them； Calliope； the
immortal muse。'
And soon they saw the blue rocks shining like spires and castles of
gray glass； while an ice…cold wind blew from them and chilled all the
heroes' hearts。 And as they neared they could see them heaving； as
they rolled upon the long sea… waves； crashing and grinding together； till
the roar went up to heaven。 The sea sprang up in spouts between them；
and swept round them in white sheets of foam； but their heads swung
nodding high in air； while the wind whistled shrill among the crags。
The heroes' hearts sank within them； and they lay upon their oars in
fear； but Orpheus called to Tiphys the helmsman； 'Between them we
must pass； so look ahead for an opening； and be brave； for Hera is with
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us。' But Tiphys the cunning helmsman stood silent； clenching his teeth；
till he saw a heron come flying mast…high toward the rocks； and hover
awhile before them； as if looking for a passage through。 Then he cried；
'Hera has sent us a pilot； let us follow the cunning bird。'
Then the heron flapped to and fro a moment； till he saw a