A maiden, slender as a whip of willow, sat by the king, and though she turned her eyes away from his, averting a direct gaze but often glancing at his one-sandalled foot, it did not think it was modesty as that she wanted to withhold her true thoughts and feelings for some reason in a royal hall full of hundreds of inquisitive eyes.

Jason thought she looked too young to be the king's wife. Was she his daughter? He had to wait, as it would be judged impolite to ask now when he was dealing with the king.

Jason explained, using the trader talk and even some Achaean words when trader talk proved insufficient, that they had come to seek the Golden Fleece that Phrixus, their countryman, had left for safekeeping in their country, or so the account was given to him in his city of Iolkos.

Hearing his, the king frowned, but his daughter--if that was what she was--seemed to be pleased. She leaned close to the king's ear and said quite a number of things, as Jason waited with growing impatience.

What was so strange about this quest of his?--hadn't they expected that someday someone from the native homeland of Phrixus would come looking for him and his Golden Fleece? The four sons of Phrixus? Where were they all? His grandsons were on board the Argo, kept there under the watchful eye of Mopsos, but where was their uncles? What had the king done to drive them away?

Jason thought the king needed more information. "O king," he began. "Do not think it so strange that we have come to your great country! I went to my own kingdom to claim it, where my uncle ruled for my father, and he offered me this wonderful adventure, and I took it, since I am young, and it seems hard for one of my few years to sit so long in a chair, day after day, even if it is golden and it is a king's. Can you help us find the Fleece of the heavenly ram? We will go in search of it at once, and cease to be a burden to you!"

Now it was the king who looked pleased, and the young woman at his side looked just the opposite.

Surprised, Jason decided that he would never get used to these changeable Colchians and their swift turning currents of mood. He waited for their answer, and it was the king who spoke next.

"You are welcome, foreign prince! Of course, you all must first bathe and be feasted properly, before you go forth to gain the Fleece! You are my honored guests! But when you take your leave, I will then tell you a few, little tasks you must perform first to prove yourself worthy of the Fleece. If it is so valuable to you, surely you will understand that it must cost you something to win and possess! The Fleece is not freely given. What treasure comes without price, unless it is stolen? To prove you are not thieves come to rob my kingdom, you will first prove you are honorable men at heart and do the things I request, which should be slight tasks to the likes of you. We cannot let just anyone, particularly strangers like you, to tread anywhere you please in my kingdom. No! But once you have proven yourself worthy by paying the price I set for you, then you can go forth with my royal favor and the speed of the gods! Is this acceptable and fair in your eyes?"

All the eyes of the courtiers and counsellors and the guards were fastened on the One-Sandalled Champion, to see how he would respond to the outrageous demands.

Jason felt very uncomfortable, unable to comprehend the full extent of the demands in the first moments. What did they know he did not know? Just what were these "little tasks" anyway? How could the king presume to put a price on the Fleece? Did it belong to him? Phrixus had sacrificed the Golden Ram of heaven--so the Fleece had come from heaven's kingdom, not this barbarian king's! How could this man presume to set his price on a heavenly ram's fleece anyway? But what choice did he, the suppliant, have? He was a royal guest, along with his crew, whether he liked the idea or not.

He bowed, and replied: "You are most gracious, O great King! If you must set a price on the Fleece, we will attempt to pay it with full obedience to your wishes. May your gods favor you in return!"

The Argonauts were led away by palace servants to their quarters, and there they bathed in fine, Ilian bronze tubs filled for them by palace men-servants with scented, warm water, and were given fresh changes of clothes fit for princes. Returning to the hall, they found it set with banqueting tables all prepared for them. The banquet began, and continued until late in the evening.

After some time, slipping away from her canopied and veiled table with the women, the royal princess (for such she was, not the king's wife) went out into the courtyard terrace overlooking the river gorge, and there for a short time she spoke privately to Jason, keeping her voice low. He was glad he had had his lion-mane trimmed by the palace barber just in case the king's daughter favored him with a private talk. He had also brought with him a jeweled trinket from Ilios Orpheus had given him in case he wanted a gift for a princess along the route.

She didn't give him an opportunity to present his gift, however, as she began speaking to him on a much more important matter, her face turned away as if she weren't really interested in him.

"One-Sandalled, I was first to see your ship coming and sent word to the villagers at the river's mouth to go and greet you kindly," she said. "My father had received spies' reports of your coming, and he made various plans, and I feared he would send warships and slay you all--but once you landed in full sight of the people, it was too late. He knew I would hear of it and be very angry with him--since he knows I wanted to see you, since I have rejected every one of these wretched, cowardly princes all round here he has put forward for my hand. Everyone of them would not dare do what you have come to do--and I spit upon them all! Pfaugh! They all fear my father's wrath, and the dragon that guards the Fleece, more than they love the glory they would gain winning it along with my hand in marriage. I refuse to be no man's toy! I will surrender to no man who is not worthy to even master his dog!"

Jason was surprised--just now hearing that this high-spirited royal princess, whom he found fascinating and strong in mind like a man, was part of the royal prize he was seeking to win.

She went on, more rapidly, though still keeping her voice low. "Don't mind my father. He is jealous of rivals of any kind. That is natural for a king of his power and wealth. He will not try to kill you right away now and will set some tasks for you, but I will help you if I can--whenever I can."

That was all she could tell him, as too many people were looking at them and whispering to each other with knowing smiles. Jason stared at her as she broke off and left him by the wall where she had stood many days looking out to sea for the coming hero with the one-sandal.

The king retired, and his daughter went with her maidens to her own apartments in the women's quarters, and the Argonauts were led back to their quarters.

In the morning, after they had slept in the down-soft beds, they were greeted and brought back to the royal hall. Here they found the king prepared for them, but his daughter was not present. The military men--who all looked like generals--stood stiffly on each side of the king. The whole air of the audence had changed from that of host with his honored guests to something like an audience a suspicious king would have with an untrusted ally or the envoys of a treacherous, neighboring kingdom.

"Prince Jason, you must complete the tasks I assign, before I let you launch forth on your quest. These are my little labors. First, you must bend a certain bow of bronze and string it. It was the bow of Herakles who was said to be half a god in his strength and prowess, if not his intellect! Nobody has been able to do it--not among mortal men. The second task will be to sail your ship backwards up the river, with your sail furled and your oars turned so the handles are plying in the water, not the blades. Third, you will subdue the bull of Hades that reputedly guards the cave entrance to the underground chambers of the souls of dead men, but you will carry no weapon. Fourth, you will use the bull of Hades to plow the ground, and then sow dragon teeth that I will give you from my royal collection. When the dragon teeth spring up as fully armed men you will fight with you, you must slay them all. When you have completed these simple tasks, you will then face the dragon which guards the tree on which the Fleece hangs. Are you ready to begin the first labor? Or are you like all the others, who proved cowards? If you are a wretched coward, I will personally whip you all the way to the city gates like a dog for wasting my royal favor and dining at my table! Well?"

Jason, his face ashen, glanced at his men, and their faces showed they were equally shaken. "O king, you ask some difficult things of us. I must go and seek the open council of my men freely. Why do we do this? We are free Achaeans--bound by our customs and laws, which were granted us by our forefathers. They met in these free and open councils, and kinds were silent in their midst, while all others spoke whatever was on their hearts, without fear of punishment. It is our ancient Achaean way, and it is good, lest our kings and princes become tyrants over us after all good counsel fails to reach their ears. Will you give us a day to decide? It is a difficult matter."

The king's face grimaced, and he seemed not at all pleased about the Achaean custom of seeking wisdom in open, free councils, but he was anxious to hear the decision, and so he signalled that they could do so, but he said that if they were delaying him just so they could runaway--he would send his mounted soldiers to catch them, and then it would be the prison for their likes!" Jason and his men, shown out of the hall, were wide-eyed. This king was everything they had been warned. But he was even worse! No king on earth would demand such things as this king demanded! What were they to do? They could not hope to outrun the king's horses and chariots. They walked back down to the ship, and then held their council as free Achaeans do since the time of their forefathers.

The men pleaded with him. "It's all clearly impossible!" they cried. "Yet we are strong and brave and are able to fight this wicked, unjust ruler," Boreus said, speaking for the others. "At least let us fight manfully, and die honorably as free Achaeans! We will not let him put such impossible tasks on you to crush you and defeat the Quest set deep in your heart!"

Jason gazed at the men, and realized that he had to save his men, even if he were not saved and his dream perish with him. As for Mopsos, he remained silent, with no opinion expressed--Phrixus's grandsons leaning against his mighty shoulders as they would with a loved big brother or their father.

Finally, when no one offered anything else, Jason stood, and the council ended. "No," Jason shook his head, "I must attempt them. There is no other way for us. He will kill us all if we do anything but what he has demanded. At least, it will be only one death, mine, rather than all yours. You will remain here, with oars, swords and shields, at hand, and if I fail, you must get away at once the moment you see his soldiers running to capture you! I think he will not strike you too, but if he tries, you must not stay and fight so many as he has, but sail at once out of this place! The river's current is swift, your arms are as strong as your oars, you can outrun them to the sea! That is my decision! What say you?"

The men all stared at him, speechless. Then, one by one, they nodded with great reluctance. And some of the men wept--they knew this was probably the last time they would see their great, one-sandalled captain alive.

Jason went up to the palace unarmed, for his strenth was his chief weapon now. The king and his court and daughter sat in a high pavilion above a pavement where Jason was led out. He was handed a bronze bow reputed to have belonged to Herakles, too heavy for an ordinary man. Made of all metal, it was unbreakable but would be useless in battle, for it would defeat the arm of any bowsman who tried to bend it.

Having switched his sandal to his left foot, he used that foot to hold one end down, while he put his arm over the other and pulled down hard. It did not bend.

Jason began praying silently. He tested it again, and still it resisted his strength. Truly, it was impossible.

He was facing his own sure death, he knew, when the king exacted the full punishment for his failure--as this cruel, barbarian king naturally would.

Jason began to think hard and fast. Defeat and disgrace were staring him in the face, like the dread faces of snake-haired Medusa and her sisters that turn a man to a stone, petrifying him with one look at them.

He was sweating hard. He had to wipe his hands off on his loin cloth to get a tight grip on the bow. Then it came to him--words he had heard Orpheus and also Mopsos and his father say, and other things too that spoke to him. There was a God above all gods, who was Almighty! This Most High God had grown unknown to the far-sailing Achaeans, because they grew darkened in their minds and began to prefer the many gods of their neighbors with all their feasts, revelry, and evil sport rather than the holy, pure worship demanded by the Unknown God of their forefathers, the One Who dwelt in unapproachable light.

To this true, holy God dwelling in pure light Jason turned in his desperation. "I will belong to You, Holy One of my forefathers, if you will help me now in this impossible task! Grant me mercy and the needed strength, I pray!"

It was a simple prayer, but utterly sincere. He did not expect a lightning bolt or a clap of thunder or a chariot with horses descend out of the sky. He felt nothing, in fact, that could tell him that this God had heard his urgent prayer and surrender.

As the king was growing restless, he gave orders to the men to strike Jason with the flat of their swords if he delayed any further.

But Jason did not wait for that humiliation to be dealt him--a prince of a royal kingdom of heroic-hearted men just as great as any high-towered, gold-rich Colchis, in his view! He grasped the arms of the bow of Herakles, applying all his strength. He felt nothing give in the bronze, and pressed on it all the more, and still nothing! He gave it everything he had! His heart was beating furiously, as if to burst! His fingers and knuckles whitened, and his chest heaved, and every muscle and bone stood out on his body. The bow refused to surrender to all the violence of his strength and will!

The solid bronze bow did not give, not by a hair's breadth! It had defeated him! He was finished!

Giving a cry of anguish, Jason was about to drop the bow and accept a miserable end at the hand of the king when a surge of power nearly knocked him off his half-bare feet. The bow nearly snapped in two as he held it in his trembling hands while the Power coursing through him did its work for him. He quickly strung it, hoping the divine strength would last long enough. It did. He strung the bow, and then stepped back, raising it high and waving it. The crowd roared in surprised approval. When he took an arrow from a quiver held out to him, he drew the bow and the arrow shot through the air with such speed it struck the target, one of the high fortress towers. Men ran to retireve it. They came back, shouting that the arrow had passed completely through, piercing two stone walls as if they were butter! And the arrow had continued on, not dropping to the ground, for there was no sign of it!

The whole gathering was thunderstruck at the news. Hundreds of Colchians jumped from the stands, running to mob him, hoisting them on his shoulders and carrying him around the viewing pavement in a victor's parade.

The king rose, looking very disgusted, and his daughter, looking very pleased, went with the king to present Jason the One-Sandalled the gold-leaved victor's crown for completing the first task successfully. Intricately figured, gold bracelets fashioned in Ilios were clamped on his arms and ankles as well, but he took the splendid trinkets off and gave them to the poor in the crowd.

Meanwhile, down at the wharves, Mopsos heard the shouting up on the king's mountain palace-fort, but he paid it no attention. He was busy making friends with the river dolphins, who were fast learning to eat from his hand and do other things he was teaching them--such as come when he called their names and even pulling on a rope he looped round their jaws.

As a boy he had gone to fishing countless times with his father and uncles, and had learned the ways of fish and dolphins. Dolphins were wonderfully bright and teachable beyond all other sea creatures, for they loved man best--seemdingly even beyond their own finny brethren of the sea. In shipwrecks, swimmers, growing tired and beginning to sink and drown, had been saved by being held up by dophins until they reached shore. Dolphins did other wonderful things as well--so it had long been held a crime among civilized men to mistreat or kill them for food--unless there was absolutely no other way for a man to find food and live.

Mopsos, in his boyhood, had trained a dolphin once to pull his little fishing boat--with a rope halter he had made for it. These dolphins of the river, he reasoned, could learn the same trick. If they were given enough tasty fish treats, that is! Once they thought they would be given rewards for any task, they were eager to do them! Otherwise, they were so free in spirit they could not be made to do anything--and were like Achaeans, in that respect--a life and liberty-loving people who did not take kindly to tyrants and their suppression of freedom and mistreatment of the poor farmer, the widow, the elderly, and the honest wayfarer.

In the hours he had before Jason's test with the bow of Herakles, Mopsos had already made friends with six or seven river dolphins who quickly responded to the names he gave them. There were others too that were drawn to the free fish he offered them--but they proved too wild and wary for him to tame.

But Laugher, Ox-back, Darter, Flier, Water-walker, Flip-tail--they were the sweet cream of the crop! Such jolly, big fellows, it seemed it was their joy to try to please him. Stroking their bellies, his six dolphin friends came again and again to him when he, or his adopted sons--as Phrixus's grandsons were to him--called their names. Dolphins learned very, very quickly, with hardly any practice. They were so bright they seemed to anticipate what he was going to teach them. Soon he knew that they would take the rope halter and pull the Argo itself, being such powerful swimmers they equalled many strong oarsmen. But could they pull the ship against the racing, snow-fed currents of the deep-channeled Phasis? That remained to be seen!

Even as the gold-wreathed, one-sandalled Jason began his triumphal descent to the ship to begin the Second Labor, certain forces in the sky--Atlanteans, no less--determined in council to lay aside their long-fought differences and deal with this one main threat to their masterplan to reconstruct the Earth for their imminent return and a re-established Atlantis II. This Achaean leader must not be permitted to upset their well-laid plans! It was Ilios, its language, and its goddess, that would rule the Earthlings under their Atlantean overlords. The Achaeans and their free, independent cities would be made slaves to the Ilians, and all would be slaves in turn to their masters of Atlantis and the royal line (which was yet to be settled upon, due to the loss of the born-in-the-purple king and queen when Atlantis was destroyed.

The time the king set for the Second Labor to begin was not to be delayed. When the king, excorted by his mounted bowsmen and swordsmen, went by chariot to the royal wharf, Jason saw that they would have to begin the impossible task, whether they could do it or not. He knew the king fully expected them to fail, and the military escort was really not to protect the king so much as to serve as captors for Jason and his crew when they failed to row upriver with the handles of their oars in the water.

When the king was settled in his grandly-tapestried royal pavilion on the wharf, and a golden trumpet was blown, it was the signal for the Argonauts to begin the rowing. Jason's Argonauts put all their oars into the milky white, muddy water, handle down, and among them were six that had halters already being nibbled by the six hungry dolphins Mopsos had trained. One by one, they accepted the halter, after being given a tasty fish. Now the Argo was ready!

As Moposos threw a fish ahead of each group of three, they started off, pulling the ship into the river.

The king, fully expecting to see the Argo drift backwards helplessly as his oarsmen flailed futilely with their oar handles, saw the ship move forwards! He was astounded. Could his eyes be mistaken? Then one of his courtiers, sharper of eye, informed the king, "They have trained the fishes to pull the ship, Your Majesty!"

"Impossible!" cried the king. Yet it was the case, which more and more of his court saw for themselves.

"The Argo continued upstream, pulled by the powerful dolphins, while Mopsos kept throwing tasty fish ahead of them to reward them for their work.

For the merry-hearted dolphins, it was more like a game of fun than work, with nice rewards along the way, as they pulled the Argo further and further upstream.

When Mopsos ran out of fish, Jason called a halt. He had his men put blades in the water, and the ship quickly returned to the wharf, his men shouting in triumph. The king was flummoxed. He could not think what to do or say against it. After all, he had set no provisions, not imagining that the Argonauts would train the river fish to pull the ship upriver against the current! He soon realized, after looking at his speechless counselors, that there was nothing for it. With a crowd of townspeople now gathered, cheering for the Argonauts, he could not countermand his former demand.

With ill grace, he crowned Jason with his second crown of golden laurel leaves for his victory over the river, while his daughter, who had arrived late in a golden litter with her own entourage, smiled and gave the champion a jeweled ring from her finger, which he kissed and then handed to Mopsos to keep for Phrixus's grandsons.

The king, seeing her hand over a ring to a foreigner he had given her on her birthday, was almost beside himself--but though he was visibly shaking with anger he controlled himself enough not to let his angry words fly. He knew better than to cross his daughter's wishes at this point of the ceremony--who knows what she might do to disgrace him before everyone present? He dared not risk her anger, as it was too much like his own for comfort--and he was not sure who could get angrier. She still had not got over her mother's death. Her mother had been a beautiful woman, but apt to use poison potions to get rid of her rivals. One--a barbarian girl he had since got rid of--had got to first. Now her daughter might be inclined to try the same things--and so it was politic to try to keep in her good graces if he could manage it.

The only thing that sweetened the king's sour countenance a bit was the thought that the next labor was even worse. Jason and his men could laugh all they like now, but soon they would be wailing, and begging for his mercy, which of course was in short supply in his kingdom, when it came to upstart strangers like this one-sandalled voyager from Achaea! Let his wrestle with the mighty horned bull of Hades and see which was the greater in strength--a mere man, or a bull that was as big as a house and able to breathe scorching fire through its flaring nostrils? No man had dared such a thing and lived!

Jason would not only have to subdue Hades' ferocious, man-killing beast but he would have to make it submit to a yoke so Jason could plow a field he would sow with dragon's teeth. When they sprang up as fully armed warriors, he would have to slay them all, before he would receive another crown. All that was, of course, utterly impossible.

Hahaha! the king chuckled to himself, as he mounted his chariot and rode back up the road to his palace to get the dragon's teeth from storage, which the gods had given him on their last visit. This one-sandalled prince was a dead man! Hahaha!

Medea thought of a way she could help Jason. She had not been able to help him before, but now a woman's arts came into play. She returned to the palace and hastily changed clothes, so that she could pay a call in the city, looking more like a commoner so that she might not attract attention.

The old herb woman was where her mother had taken her once, busy at her trade of preparing love potions, and even potions to get rid of unwanted husbands and unwanted wives or rivals of wives. It was a good business, and she never lacked for patrons. Not at all surprised the late queen's daughter would come alone, she heard her request, and knew exactly what would do. The spider leaf plant was the most potent in the world of herbs. With a leather glove, she gathered a few beans and leaves of the plant she grew outside the abandoned royal kitchen, now a ruin, where she lived and worked.

Soon she had it worked in a mortar with a pestle into the paste required.

As she worked, being very careful to not get any of the crushed leaves on herself, she explained how it must be applied.

"A little more, perhaps, and it could kill the beast on its feet. Dab this amount I give you on a bundle of provender for the beast to eat--and soon it will collapse. When it awakens, it will be docile, unable to fix its mind on you as its enemy, so it will not rush at you to kill you. You can do anything you like with this beast as long as the herb's strength lasts. After the effect passes, the beast will turn and gore you if you tarry."

Medea paid the woman a gold coin, and the woman was all smiles--she had not been paid so royally since the queen had been her frequent customer in former days.

"Now, Your Majesty, please be very, very careful with the potion. It must not touch you, or you will die a horrible death! It is so powerful an herb!"

The herb woman scooped the paste into an earthen jug, sealing it with a stopper,then handed it to the princess.

"Only pour a little water in it, and you can pour it out on the hay for the beast you speak of. But if you get any on your own hand, you will die! Throw away the jug at once."

She herself cast the utensils she had used away--including the mortar and pestle and the glove she had used to gather the herb.

Medea took the spider plant bane and narcotic straight to the royal wharf. She was fortunate, she found. Instead of the usual gang of talkative, lounging boatmen and traders, with a customs man or official from the palace dealing with them, there was only a fisherman or two casting a line from the wharf, more intent on getting their catch for dinner than anything else.

Jason, not recognizing her, went to meet the visitor that came and stood on the wharf nearest the ship, thinking she might be a woman of the town, and he was not of a mind to let her come on board, regardless who had called her.

He was happy to see Medea's face, however, as she pushed back her head covering--surprised as he was that she would come in person like this, wearing a commoner's clothes.

Medea did not waste time on herself as Jason and his men pulled the mooring line, and they drew up close to the wharf. Jason climbed out on the wharf to speak to her in private. She walked away a few paces, then turned around to face him as she held out the means for overcoming the bull of Hades. She explained everything about the potion, and how careful he must be with it.

"This will make the beast do whatever you want it to do. It is the only way. Otherwise it will kill you! That is why my father set this impossible task on you--he knew what this bull would do! Will you use the potion?"

Jason took the jug. "Yes! I will do with it as you told me."

He thanked her, but she did not give him any more time to say more and hurried away.

Jason watched her go, sighed, and then turned back to the business at hand--the Third Labor! This was a most dreadful task the king had set for him!

His Argonauts fully expected not to see him return from the cave of Hades. But where was the cave entrance to the Underworld of the Dead?

Jason did not want to call on any of the king's men to guide him to it--lest the king use them to thwart him in any way. He would find it himself, perhaps using local people's advice if he could get it. Surprising him, however, they fell silent when he asked the tradesmen in the port when he went to buy the provender for the bull. Normally, they were talkative, but not on this subject!

There was nothing for it, he would have to set off walking, and find it himself if he could, without help.

With his Argonauts following, carrying the rake with the bundle of hay for him, Jason set off, not willing to delay the Labor any longer.

After they left the city gate leading to the mountains, he came upon many farms, then further out, on the slopes of the mountains, flocks of sheep. It was so warm and luxuriant below the slopes, but on them the herbage quickly thinned out to grass and small prickly shrubs. Here a shepherd boy ran right into his path. He was very frightened. Evidently, he had been chasing a sheep that had bolted.

Jason caught the boy in his hands before he could get away.

The boy struggled, but Jason was gentle, and the boy did not fight but looked at him. Jason did not know the Colchian tongue, but he knew some signs the traders sometimes used with barbarians. He tried them, and the boy seemed to understand that his guidance was wanted.

Jason pointed to a bull in a pasture further down the slope. By degrees he got the boy to understand that the bull he sought was under the ground, not on it. Finally, the eyes of the boy gleamed with understanding, then, terrible fear. He struggled to get away all the more from Jason's grasp. Jason took out a gold piece, and the boy stared at it with big eyes and stopped struggling.

"Oh, so you know the value of this, do you?!" Jason laughed, and his men laughed with him. He handed it to the boy, while indicating that he was to lead them to the bull that lives underground. The boy, grasping the gold piece with his teeth, set out gladly, letting his sheep tend themselves for the time being.

The boy practically ran the whole distance, and the men were hard put to keep up, for the boy was as nimble footed as a goat on the steep slopes and the rocky sides of ravines.

He knew just where to ford streams that plummeted out of the snows and ice far overhead to fall upon the slopes far below. He knew the entrances to all the major caves in the area too, and he lead them to one, stopped, smiled and pointed. Jason undestood. This was the one he sought!

The boy darted off, and Jason did not have a chance to thank him.

The Argonauts peered in. It was a vast cave, and even though the entrance was narrow, they could see there was no limit to it. How would he see when the light of the outside world failed him?

He hoped that he would find the bull where there was still enough light to see it. That was all he could hope, for he had not thought to bring torches. And he could not carry them anyway. He had the rake and hay, the jug, and his sword and shield. His Argonauts wanted to accompany him, and carry everything, but he refused.

"Return to the ship!" he said to them. "You must all guard it for my return. We must not lose our ship. Please go at once!" The men were most reluctant, but Jason did not give them an opportunity to try to dissuade him. He left them and entered the cave. Within moments he and his Argonauts had lost sight of each other.

He went deeper and deeper, lower and lower. The bottom of the world seemed to drop out, as he descended, and still there was no end of the cave. The ruddy glowing of the cave increased, even as the light shining in from the cave entrance failed. He could see well enough as his eyes adjusted to the dimness! When hours had passed and he was weary enough to want to lie down and sleep, he came into an area that turned level. Was he at the bottom of the cave? He had no idea.

Becoming very wary, he proceeded slowly.

It was good that he was taking his time, and was quiet, for every stone that was kicked made a noise that repeated itself almost endlessly in the vast chambers of the cave.

He finally saw up ahead a huge mass he thought was a big, solitary rock. But it moved! And when it turned, it showed its horns.

Jason froze. He did not move even an eyelid. The monster bull was bigger than he had even imagined.

It slowly walked away from him, and Jason was able to breathe again. It had not seen him! Evidently, he was so small, it had not seen him in the dim light, or maybe he seemed nothing but an ant to it.

Jason, laying down the provender, took the jug and pulled the stopper. Carefully, he applied the potion to the hay and straw, then he picked up the rake and carried the provender as he followed the bull from a safe distance. The bull finally stopped, swung its head about a few times, then sank onto its haunches, before laying down on its side. It was going to sleep!

This was Jason's chance. He waited a while, then as quietly as possible carried the hay to the bull, laying it down where he thought the bull might see it or come close to it when it was again on its feet.

Then Jason went to the rock walls of the cave, and hiding himself between the huge boulders, waited.

The bull rolled a couple times in its sleep, snorted, flexed its tremendous legs and hooves, then returned to its slumber. Jason also slept, thinking it would be a longer time, and he might as well rest too.

When he awoke, it was suddenly, at the sound of something huge, like an avalanche of rocks, falling into the cave with a thunderous roar. He looked out, and saw only the bull. It was lying on the ground as before. Had it?

Jason had to risk it to find out, but he had to know. He crept as quietly as he could toward the bull. He got right in front of the monster, but still the bull gave no sign it knew he was there. Then Jason saw it had eaten the provender, including the rake!

Jason was delighted! But what was he to do now? All he could think to do was wait and see what happened next. Just in case, he moved a distance away, where he had of chance of running to the safety of the big rocks if the bull saw him and charged.

The Argonauts waiting for Jason at the cave's entrance scattered in all directions as the bull burst through, swinging its mountainous head and tremendous horns, widening the narrow entrance as it forced its way through and into the outer world.

Jason followed, and when the bull quietened, still under the effect of the narcotic, he took the hair rope he had made of the bull's own tail hair and, attached to the hair of the beast's head, he led it like a docile lamb.

The astonished Argonauts watched as Jason and the bull continued on down toward the lower slopes. Jason did not dare pause to explain. He did not want the potion to wear off before he had completed the labor. Yes, he had subdued the beast, but he had to plow a field, then sow it with dragon's teeth provided by the kind.

But first he had to get it and himself safely down to the lower cultivated slopes.

"I need plenty rope and a plow," he called to the men. They understood, and some ran for the rope, and others for a farmer's plow from the nearest farm.

The men going for the rope from the ship met Mopsos. That man had seven eyes in his head, it seemed, and seven ears--how could he have known and seen Jason's need? But he did! Grabbing the rope, they ran carrying it up the slopes toward the highest fields.

When Jason and the bull reached the first fields, the rope and a plow were waiting for them, and he shouted instructions as the bull kept moving along, Jason not able to stop it. The ropes, wound around the horns, then were pulled back over the monster's flanks and Jason hitched them to the plow as Argonauts carried it. They dropped it, and he was off, plowing!

It was a deep furrow, if not very straight.

When Jason decided the furrow was long enough to prove he had done it, he cut the hitching ropes to the plow, and let the bull continue on down the slope. He ran alongside, in case it wandered off to the side. But it continued taking the route of least resistance as he hoped it would--its tremendous weight taking it ever downwards, right to the cliff edge.

Would it notice the danger and turn back? Jason wondered, holding his breath. No! It continued on over. Then, losing footholds in the loose scree of the rock, it began to thrash with its legs. But that only made things worse. Wakening now to its peril, it snorted and roared, but there was no stopping its momentum. It began to tumble, head over tail. Then, incredibly, as the Argonauts looked over the cliff edge with bulging eyes, the bull of Hades went airborne, its leg flailing helplessly.

Down, down, down!

It plunged onto the sea rocks far below--and lay still as the waves washed up around it, its mighty horns rising and falling in the pounding surf and surge of the waves.

Jason turned back around, shocked but vastly relieved. Wondrous monster that it was--some said it was the ox bull of Herakles, that he used to plow with--it had to be killed this way, he knew. If it had continued to live, it would have killed him and the Argonauts, then go on to the villages and even the city and destroyed everything and killed everyone. But that wouldn't have been enough. It would have done the same to all the inhabited earth. Nothing could have stopped this monster as it rampaged across the wide earth.

Jason looked round at his wide-eyed Argonauts. How fortunate they all were, he thought, that Medea's potion had not worn off before they could send the monster over the cliff!

But there was no time for celebration. He had a task to complete! Already news of the plowing had no doubt reached the palace. It would be impossible for news like that to be kept back from Aeetes, for the king's hired eyes and ears were everywhere in his kingdom!

It was so as Jason thought, for as he entered the palace, the very mood of the place was even more hostile than before--an indication that they all knew he had completed the impossible task of subduing of the Bull of Hades and also the plowing successfully.

The king sent word before he could reach the royal hall--he was to follow a guard, and he would be taken to a place for a private audience.

Jason followed the guard, and was led into a dark chamber. Only the king and a guard were present. The king went to a huge wooden chest, which was locked. He took an enormous bronze key, with many cut facets and teeth to it, and opened the chest. Removing layers of gold-threaded cloth, he bought out the first dragon tooth.

Jason could hardly believe what he was seeing.

It was the strangest tooth he had ever seen, for though it was toothlike, at the center glowed bubbles that went up and down, forming and reforming as if it were alive! What was the dragon like that had produced such a tooth as this? he wondered.

The king laughed at him. "It was given me by the high gods who keep the dragon in their palace zoo. They left this one, and others, in my keeping. If I ever need their aid, they said to me, I only have to bring them out, and sow them in the open field, and they will immediately draw armed men out of the air. I have not needed any such help, for I have plenty armed men of my own, so you will be the first to use them! But the soldiers that fly down will not recognize you, perhaps, and fight you to the death! We shall see!"

After turning the dragon's teeth over to Jason, the king left without another word. Jason felt a chill holding the crystal dragon's tooth, but there was no turning back now. He took it, and the others, in a sower's burlap bag, and left the palace.

It happened just as the king said. The teeth, which he sowed in the furrow, were no sooner sown than he saw things flying in the sky, heading toward him at great speed.

He knew he had a fight on his hands, and came prepared with javelin and sword. His javelin, first!

As an airman swooped at him, Jason let his shaft fly, and being an expert, he caught the airman, piercing the transparent shield in front of him.

Though struck, the airman flew off, but he did not go very far, before tumbling and falling into a deep ravine. There was a loud noise, and flames shot out of the ravine, and billows of black smoke.

The other airmen, seeing it, halted their attack, and a moment later they vanished back whereever they had come from. Jason was alone--alive, and victorious!

It was time to celebrate! The Argonauts rushed forward, hoisting him on their shoulders, shouting as loud as they could, and the sound reached the nearest village, and the people ran out, wondering what was going on. They soon heard, and they too began shouting for joy in his victory, heedless of the king who hated Jason the One-Sandalled with a passion.

Jason went in triumph to the palace. This time the whole palace turned out to view the champion and his splendid, young men. No man alive on the earth could claim such exploits as Jason's, everyone knew. He would be famous forever--and his glorious deeds, done in Colchis, would rebound to the fame of their country as well. Everyone, except the king, was full of joy.

The king himself had to show himself to the jubilant crowds that streamed up to join in the event.

There was no stopping all this festivity now. The king had to declare a state banquet with all the trimmings, at which to award gifts to the victor worthy of a great king and worthy of his great kingdom, and despite all he had tried to do, the victor was the One-Sandalled and his mariners.

His daughter too, was a part of the awards. Word reached her, and she was very pleased, indeed, as she could not wish for a braver and more handsome mate than this Jason of the Achaeans. Jason was, in fact, just what she had ordered from the gods! Hadn't she given a rich present of gold--seven royal serving plates of solid gold a servant could hardly lift and the hearts of four slaves--to the goddess Hecate in her hidden, valley shrine, for aid in securing such a husband as Jason would be to her?

She sent word she would be not be coming down to greet him, but she would give him a gift too. The Colchians understood why she would not attend the royal banquet--that was not her place as a bride to be, as she would need to prepare herself and her maids for the wedding.

Of course, everyone understood too that this was not her chief reason for her doing it this way. She was a royal princess, full of her pride of station, naturally. Colchians, being half-barbarian to put it kindly, had known many a woman who fancied herself a warrior on equal with any man--or, if they were too small in body, at least their equal or even their master in her wits. Medea was one of those in the latter case. No man she had met had matched her wits. Submission to a man, then, was going to prove hard for her--no matter how much the One-Sandalled attracted her.

Jason, on his side, was content to wait for her when she would be his, at some grand wedding ceremony--and it didn't have to be grand to suit his simple tastes. But what of the greatest prize of all--the Golden Fleece? Would he postpone seeking it to be married? Most men would do that--preferring love to war. Everyone wanted to know what the groom's desire was.

"I will take the gift of my lady," he told them, "and then we will launch immediately, to go and win the Fleece of the heavenly ram before I return to take my lady and wife."

This greatly disappointed the crowds, who desired to see the wedding first, but they had no say in it, and Jason's decision did not displease the king, who did not want the marriage at all, and hoped Jason would be slain by the fierce dragon that jealously guarded the Fleece, never sleeping it was said, with eyes forever open and watchful.

As the Argonauts made last minute preparations, Medea watched secretly, where she found a private place high in a tower looking down on the king's harbor. It was a narrow tower, with only one way up so she could hear anyone approaching. There she remained, until Jason's sailing, while the palace searched high and low for her.

The decision made, Jason inspected the loaves of bread, the wine, and the other supplies. He had to make certain the sail and the ropes and other gear were seaworthy--though he was not intending to put to sea.

He had asked the Colchians, great and small, of the Fleece's whereabouts--and got nowhere with them. He concluded that they were either ignorant and did not know, or they were too fearful of the king to tell him, a stranger and a foreigner.

He does not ask the king, the one person who would know for certain--rather than be lied to or told someplace that would surely be his death and the deaths of his crew and the ship too.

He inquired at a temple of a certain local goat-god, where the most ancient accounts were reputedly kept in safety. The priests who served as librarians, even with a gift of gold, could tell him precious little beyond what he could already guess. They spoke of gods coming to Colchis, even up to the time of their king's first years of reign--flying in strange chariots the shape of tear drops or tongues. The gods had left certain treasures with the king to keep until they returned--though they could not describe them--having never been permitted by the king to gain access to them.

Keeping quiet about the dragon's teeth, Jason went back to the ship. What did he care about the strange gods anyway? They had nothing to do with what he was about to seek, he thought. But on the way to the king's wharf to board his ship, he paused in the gathering of buyers and sellers who congregated in the area before the royal guards cleared them away. He asked a couple traders talking together where the Fleece of Phrixus might be located.

At first they looked to see if any of the royal guards from the palace were in hearing distance, and seeing it was safe they told him what they knew. It was stolen and taken out of the country by the foreign Achaean, Phrixus and his four sons, they told him. They had abused the trust and hospitality of the king and taken the treasure secretly away in their ship by night. They shrugged--such was the way of greedy foreigners!

Jason was not at all pleased with their lies and idle talk--but he kept control of his anger. "What then has happened to them?" he inquired. "Did they reach their homeland with the treasure?"

They nodded, smiling and showing their gold teeth. "Assuredly! They are now boasting how they got away with the treasure right under the king's nose! They are feasting and dancing and having a jolly time at our expense!"

That was enough for Jason's blood to start boiling--the very idea! They made Phrixus and his sons to be nothing but base robbers and sneaks! His mighty arms itched to grab the three liars and bang their heads together, but he held back, certain he might kill one or two.

He turned away, as if sorry to leave their entertaining company. "You wouldn't happen to know something, good sirs?" he said. "Such noble fellows as you would surely know it."

Their interest up, they fell right into his little trap. "Of course, we would--what is it you wish to know, good prince?"

"Oh, where are the forests that hold the tallest, biggest trees? I may need a new mast, that's all."

The traders hastily vied to supply the information, to prove which one of them knew Colchis best.

Jason soon learned the locations of the major forests, renowed for trees that scratched heaven with their house-thick branches and seed cones the sizes of pregnant ewes. There was one found along the southern coast, where no cities thrived, but where the brigands and robbers flourished. Then there was a swamp toward the north, full of fevers, however--also little visited by people. And a third great stand of trees sprang from the headwaters of the Phasis, the stream that watered the orchards, fields, and vineyards of Aea and her surrounding villages. This forest, they averred, was the most dangerous, since it was full of deadly snakes and magical, enchanting groves where men ventured to their doom.

Thanking the men, who congratulated themselves on their wonderful knowledge of their country, Jason went to the ship. He knew all he needed, thanks to their loose tongues.

As he climbed aboard the Argo, carrying his sower's bag with the rope made of the tail hair of the Bull of Hades in it as a momento of the wondrous monster, he was met by Mopsos and the waiting, excited crew. Jason did not waste time but went to make his last inspections, noting whatever was still lacking or unfinished.

Strangely, he thought of Medea's offer of a gift. She had not given it--had she forgotten? Even as he was thinking this, a courier ran down the road to the king's harbor--his gleaming green and blue headdress of peacock feathers and sash of gold announcing that state business was soon at hand.

But why not a chariot? Jason wondered, watching the man. Ignoring the royal guards at the king's wharf, the man went straight to the side nearest where the Argo was moored. Giving orders, Jason had his men use the oars and pole the ship up next to the dock, so the man could speak more privately to him the king's matter.

He was mistaken. "A gift from the princess royal!" the courier said to Jason. Jason, leaping to the dock at once, drew the man aside.

"She commands that you tell no one--or you will not receive it."

"I will do as she wishes," he replied.

The courier then brought out of the royal bag he carried a golden casket. He handed it to Jason. Jason, not sure what to do with it, put it inside the cradle of his arm. "I have no proper royal gift as yet for her in return," he said. "Tell her, my gift will be her sight of the Golden Fleece of the Heavenly Ram!"

"Prince Jason, I will tell the princess exactly as you said," the courier replied.

The courier saluted in the Colchian manner, and ran off, again without stopping to speak with the palace guards who made no move to detain him.

Jason watched the man recede up the high, winding road, and then climbed back aboard the Argo, giving order to move it away from the dock and pull the mooring line.

He told no one but Mopsos, as the men were all busy, the preparations going forward to launch the ship. Mopsos had somehow even got hold of mops and the deck and plank seats were being given a last scrub by him and the others. What a man for cleanliness, as if cleanliness were next to godliness! Jason thought, amused. Most Achaeans were fastidious, but not as fastidious as Mopsos, who couldn't stand a speck of dirt if he could help it.

Going to the bow where he could sit, Jason held Medea's gift in the crook of his arm, and then, when it was the time, he drew it out and took a look at it. He had no idea what she had given her. Gold? Jewels? What would he do with them? He opened the casket, which was of Ilian manufacture, fitted with fine golden hinges.

Inside he found a lock of bronzen, reddish hair--Medea's? he wondered, surprised.

He touched it, and it was so fine--the softest hair he had ever touched, for he was so used to coarse Achaean hair, that grew thick and dense like sheep's wool, only jet black.

The fragrance in the hair met his nostrils as he gazed at the lock of hair. For a moment he had never smelled so wonderful a scent--it was like a wildflower's, with something like pine resin added. He closed the box--but the scent stayed in his mind--he felt bewitched by it, his senses almost drugged. His whole being seemed captivated. He stood up, almost unsteadily, grasping the upper rails of the bows for support. He glanced up toward the palace, searchingly, as if he could see her at such a great distance.

Jason's eyes widened. What was that fluttering from the topmost tower of the palace? A long, red ribbon! The palace had many flags and banners, but this ribbon--it was alone. Was it Medea's? He was certain it was.

Excited, still intoxicated by Medea's lock of hair that had ravished his heart and soul with the very scent of it, Jason climbed up the mast, pulling off a banner. He waved it, back and forth. The ribbon he saw fluttering from the tower, as if in reponse, was dropped. Falling, falling, caught by the wind, streaming this way and that, the long ribbon looked like a gleaming, red snake in the air. It was a strange sight, drawing the attention of the busy crew, who stopped to look at it as it drifted down toward the ship.

Would it fly overhead and pass them, dropping in the river?

It was not likely to fall within reach, yet it did so--a miracle in itself--coming to rest on the king's wharf. Jason was first to retrieve it--and then wrapping the lock in the ribbon, he put the casket, ribbon, and lock of hair carefully away in a good place for safekeeping.

Before dawn, well before the first light when people normally arose to start a new day's labors, Jason rose and the ship glided forth under his command, silently as a night-flying bird.

Scarcely dipping their oars, the sail doing the work for them, they moved upriver, quickly putting the king and his palace fortress behind them.

Jason gave the palace-crowned mountain scarcely a glance. It was almost completely dark anyway, with only the guards going the rounds on their patrols. Would they see his departure and report it immediately to the king? Yet he knew he would still have the advantage, even if the king sent a ship to do him mischief. Full light was coming soon, and he could not be caught by surprise.

The king, high in his tower sleeping chamber, heard the report of Jason's swift, early departure. Cursing the spies for not informing him earlier, when there was still chance of creating some difficulties for Jason, the king had to be content with the knowledge that Jason was headed upriver. That meant his doom, he was fully assured. No one ever went that way and returned to crow about it!

Even as the king shook the curtains of his canopied bed with his snores, Medea was at the king's wharf.

She had ordered a ship made in Ilios on her design that she had sent with her agents who carried the gold to pay for it. It was shaped like a swan, the royal bird that was found in the king's river, the Phasis. As it moved upriver in the daylight hours, it drew attention because of its size and beauty. Was it for a great queen? the people who saw it wondered? Who was she? Had the king remarried? He has completed his months of mourning, and was surely going to remarry soon. But what queen would submit to such a cruel tyrant? they had to wonder. Maybe that was why there were so few women of high rank in Colchis who would even consider taking his last wife's place. And then there was his daughter, whom the people talked about. She was said to be very jealous of any woman who might want to take the affections of the king, and possibly make him think that she, daughter of his first wife, was of no account. She was also said to be adept in poisons. How long would his new wife last with such a daughter of the king in the same palace? No wonder the king had remained wifeless for some time after his wife had gone to the halls of Hades! Such was the talk of the Colchians anyway!

Medea's ship had a special sail emblazoned with the sign of the cattle hides that, coated with butter, captured the river's gold and made Colchis the rich kingdom it was.

This swan was a bird of magic in her land--and was supposed to insure good sailings and good fortune and treasure at the end of them. The crew she had selected, along with the soldiers, sailed it upriver, drawing much attention to the size and beauty of the vessel.

Arriving with the swanship at the very time they were most needed, her mariners took her aboard and she sat in the canopied stern.

Its sail unfurled, it made its way upriver while the morning light dawned above the highest peaks.

It was just as well the prince and princess set out as early as they did. There were sudden, bright glows in the heavens, which moved in unison toward the palace-fortress on its seemingly impregnable site high above the river and the city and port of Aea.

Had they come to look for Jason? The sky chariots were formed like the tongue-shaped ones that had assaulted him previously. But these were larger, and they shot flaming arrows that flew faster than any arrow could, without even using bows.

The arrows struck the towers and ramparts, a dozen in the first flight. Sudden, blinding lights erupted, then rolling thunder as if the world itself were coming to an end. The palace disappeared, enveloped in smoke and jetting fires. The second flight of arrows sped to their target, none missing the mark.

They too caused smoke and fire and tremendous noise--so that the whole city of Aea ran screaming into the streets, thinking it was an earthquake or a mountain exploding down upon them.

As thousands looked up into the sky where the palace stood, they saw what looked like a mountain on fire, spewing smoke and rocks and huge chunks of the stonework down the sides of the acropolis.

The city was now in real danger, as the inhabitants realized the avalanche was headed for their city and would arrive in a few moments.

Panicked, with no help possible from the king or his government, the crowds that had gathered in the streets rushed this way and that like wolf-attacked sheep without shepherds, some going back inside their houses for valuables or loved ones, while others--posssessing less in this world's goods perhaps--rushed toward the city gates. Alas for them! The guards were so amazed by what was happening, they were like paralytics--and the gates remained shut, their mighty bronze bars and bolts undrawn.

The fleeing crowds ran right into the gates, and many, many people were trampled. The rest of the story is not any better, for this was just the beginning of their woes. Aea suffered greatly that morning before dawning light.

The first day of sailing went without incident. Drawing near a city, Jason and his Argonauts saw that first impressions were deceiving. It was nothing but ruins, they realized, as they sailed close. Even the wharves and the shipping that should have been there in the river port had been burnt. The walls that protected the entrance to the mountain valley and the city nestling on the mountain slopes and in the valleys, they too had been burnt and broken down. Where there any people that had survived? they wondered. Who had done this destruction?

Jason, giving swords and shields out, gave the men shore leave, while he and Mopsos and the children stayed aboard to keep the ship safe from any passing robbers.

The Argonauts entered the ruined city, amazed at its size and splendor that was even apparent in the ruins and shattered buildings.

Going up the main street, they came to the marketplace, and it too was nothing but burned shells of buildings and shops. But along a ruined wall of one of the burned shops was a thatched hut or lean-to. A family, startled to see strangers, came out. The Argonauts set down their weapons, to show the family they had come in peace. The coppersmith and his family were overwhelmed, to see other human beings in the city. Evidently, they had not had visitors for quite some time.

The Argonauts were astonished that the man's speech was akin to the dialect of Tiryns and Argos. Has this city been a colony of those cities in centuries past? They could make out most of his words, as he lamented the destruction of his city by King Aeetes--whom they had considered an ally and trusted, so that they had invited him to come to receive the city's best welcome in celebration of a treaty they signed, insuring peace for them in exchange for a certain amount of gold, which was paid to him because he had the larger navy and could keep the whole coast clear of robber ships.

What a mistake! the coppersmith cried. The king had come with his warships against them, attacking them as soon as they drew up in the port. The treaty had been a mere convenience for the king to use to cloud his real intentions. It was his way to keep his plans from being discovered in time for his victims to defend themselves.

The king made quick work of the city--burning, sacking, looting, carrying everything off they wanted, gold, slaves. They seemed to want to destroy everything--but they left the three pillars at the entrance, perhaps to show that the king had destroyed a great city, which would stand a long time as a memorial to his military greatness.

The coppersmith, remembering his family's needs were urgent, offered for sale what little they had salvaged from the city and their own ruined shop.