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not need to strike again。
Then he wrapped the head in the goat…skin； turning away his eyes；
and sprang into the air aloft； faster than he ever sprang before。
For Medusa's wings and talons rattled as she sank dead upon the
rocks； and her two foul sisters woke； and saw her lying dead。
Into the air they sprang yelling and looked for him who had done the
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deed。 Thrice they swung round and round； like hawks who beat for a
partridge； and thrice they snuffed round and round； like hounds who
draw upon a deer。 At last they struck upon the scent of the blood； and
they checked for a moment to make sure； and then on they rushed with a
fearful howl； while the wind rattled hoarse in their wings。
On they rushed； sweeping and flapping； like eagles after a hare； and
Perseus' blood ran cold； for all his courage； as he saw them come
howling on his track； and he cried； 'Bear me well now； brave sandals； for
the hounds of Death are at my heels！'
And well the brave sandals bore him； aloft through cloud and
sunshine； across the shoreless sea； and fast followed the hounds of Death；
as the roar of their wings came down the wind。 But the roar came
down fainter and fainter； and the howl of their voices died away； for the
sandals were too swift； even for Gorgons； and by nightfall they were far
behind； two black specks in the southern sky； till the sun sank and he
saw them no more。
Then he came again to Atlas； and the garden of the Nymphs； and
when the giant heard him coming he groaned； and said； 'Fulfil thy
promise to me。' Then Perseus held up to him the Gorgon's head； and he
had rest from all his toil； for he became a crag of stone； which sleeps for
ever far above the clouds。
Then he thanked the Nymphs； and asked them； 'By what road shall I
go homeward again； for I wandered far round in coming hither？'
And they wept and cried； 'Go home no more； but stay and play with
us； the lonely maidens； who dwell for ever far away from Gods and
men。'
But he refused； and they told him his road； and said； 'Take with you
this magic fruit； which； if you eat once； you will not hunger for seven
days。 For you must go eastward and eastward ever； over the doleful
Lybian shore； which Poseidon gave to Father Zeus； when he burst open
the Bosphorus and the Hellespont； and drowned the fair Lectonian land。
And Zeus took that land in exchange； a fair bargain； much bad ground
for a little good； and to this day it lies waste and desert with shingle； and
rock； and sand。'
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Then they kissed Perseus； and wept over him； and he leapt down the
mountain； and went on； lessening and lessening like a sea…gull； away and
out to sea。
PART IV … HOW PERSEUS CAME TO THE
AETHIOPS
SO Perseus flitted onward to the north…east； over many a league of
sea； till he came to the rolling sand…hills and the dreary Lybian shore。
And he flitted on across the desert： over rock…ledges； and banks of
shingle； and level wastes of sand； and shell…drifts bleaching in the
sunshine； and the skeletons of great sea… monsters； and dead bones of
ancient giants； strewn up and down upon the old sea…floor。 And as he
went the blood…drops fell to the earth from the Gorgon's head； and
became poisonous asps and adders； which breed in the desert to this
day。
Over the sands he went； … he never knew how far or how long；
feeding on the fruit which the Nymphs had given him； till he saw the
hills of the Psylli； and the Dwarfs who fought with cranes。 Their spears
were of reeds and rushes； and their houses of the egg…shells of the cranes；
and Perseus laughed； and went his way to the north…east； hoping all day
long to see the blue Mediterranean sparkling； that he might fly across
it to his home。
But now came down a mighty wind； and swept him back southward
toward the desert。 All day long he strove against it； but even the
winged sandals could not prevail。 So he was forced to float down the
wind all night； and when the morning dawned there was nothing to be
seen； save the same old hateful waste of sand。
And out of the north the sandstorms rushed upon him； blood… red
pillars and wreaths； blotting out the noonday sun； and Perseus fled
before them； lest he should be choked by the burning dust。 At last the
gale fell calm； and he tried to go northward again； but again came down
the sandstorms； and swept him back into the waste； and then all was
calm and cloudless as before。 Seven days he strove against the
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storms； and seven days he was driven back； till he was spent with thirst
and hunger； and his tongue clove to the roof of his mouth。 Here and
there he fancied that he saw a fair lake； and the sunbeams shining on the
water； but when he came to it it vanished at his feet； and there was
nought but burning sand。 And if he had not been of the race of the
Immortals； he would have perished in the waste； but his life was strong
within him； because it was more than man's。
Then he cried to Athene； and said …
'Oh； fair and pure； if thou hearest me； wilt thou leave me here to die
of drought？ I have brought thee the Gorgon's head at thy bidding； and
hitherto thou hast prospered my journey； dost thou desert me at the last？
Else why will not these immortal sandals prevail； even against the desert
storms？ Shall I never see my mother more； and the blue ripple round
Seriphos； and the sunny hills of Hellas？'
So he prayed； and after he had prayed there was a great silence。
The heaven was still above his head； and the sand was still beneath
his feet； and Perseus looked up； but there was nothing but the blinding
sun in the blinding blue； and round him； but there was nothing but the
blinding sand。
And Perseus stood still a while； and waited； and said； 'Surely I am
not here without the will of the Immortals； for Athene will not lie。
Were not these sandals to lead me in the right road？ Then the road in
which I have tried to go must be a wrong road。'
Then suddenly his ears were opened； and he heard the sound of
running water。
And at that his heart was lifted up； though he scarcely dare believe
his ears； and weary as he was； he hurried forward； though he could
scarcely stand upright； and within a bowshot of him was a glen in the
sand； and marble rocks； and date… trees； and a lawn of gay green grass。
And through the lawn a streamlet sparkled and wandered out beyond the
trees； and vanished in the sand。
The water trickled among the rocks； and a pleasant breeze rustled in
the dry date…branches and Perseus laughed for joy； and leapt down the
cliff； and drank of the cool water； and ate of the dates； and slept upon the
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turf； and leapt up and went forward again： but not toward the north this
time； for he said； 'Surely