ld. But the two sons of the
North Wind drew their swords, spread their pinions and set off through
the air in pursuit of the thieves, whom they at last overtook among some
islands, after a chase of hundreds of miles. The two winged youths
blustered terribly at the Harpies (for they had the rough temper of
their father), and so frightened them with their drawn swords that they
solemnly promised never to trouble King Phineus again.

Then the Argonauts sailed onward and met with many other marvelous
incidents, any one of which would make a story by itself. At one time
they landed on an island and were reposing on the grass, when they
suddenly found themselves assailed by what seemed a shower of
steel-headed arrows. Some of them stuck in the ground, while others hit
against their shields and several penetrated their flesh. The fifty
heroes started up and looked about them for the hidden enemy, but could
find none nor see any spot on the whole island where even a single
archer could lie concealed. Still, however, the steel-headed arrows came
whizzing among them; and, at last, happening to look upward, they beheld
a large flock of birds hovering and wheeling aloft and shooting their
feathers down upon the Argonauts. These feathers were the steel-headed
arrows that had so tormented them. There was no possibility of making
any resistance, and the fifty heroic Argonauts might all have been
killed or wounded by a flock of troublesome birds without ever setting
eyes on the Golden Fleece if Jason had not thought of asking the advice
of the oaken image.

So he ran to the galley as fast as his legs would carry him.

"O daughter of the Speaking Oak," cried he, all out of breath, "we need
your wisdom more than ever before! We are in great peril from a flock of
birds, who are shooting us with their steel-pointed feathers. What can
we do to drive them away?"

"Make a clatter on your shields," said the image.

On receiving this excellent counsel, Jason hurried back to his
companions (who were far more dismayed than when they fought with the
six-armed giants) and bade them strike with their swords upon their
brazen shields. Forthwith the fifty heroes set heartily to work, banging
with might and main, and raised such a terrible clatter that the birds
made what haste they could to get away; and though they had shot half
the feathers out of their wings, they were soon seen skimming among the
clouds, a long distance off and looking like a