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 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 among them and then a loud shout.

"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