mplished, thanks to the help of this
maiden. Now may we return to Greece; now have we the hope of looking
upon our fathers and our friends once more. And in all honor will we
bring this maiden with us, Medea, the daughter of King AEetes."

Then he drew his sword and cut the hawsers of the ship, calling upon
the heroes to drive the Argo on. There was a din and a strain and a
splash of oars, and away from Aea the Argo dashed. Beside the mast
Medea stood; the Golden Fleece had fallen at her feet, and her head and
face were covered by her silver veil.

IV. THE SLAYING OF APSYRTUS

That silver veil was to be splashed with a brother's blood, and the
Argonauts, because of that calamity, were for a long time to be held
back from a return to their native land.

Now as they went down the river they saw that dangers were coming
swiftly upon them. The chariots of the Colchians were upon the banks.
Jason saw King AEetes in his chariot, a blazing torch lighting his
corselet and his helmet. Swiftly the Argo went, but there were ships
behind her, and they went swiftly too.

They came into the Sea of Pontus, and Phrontis, the son of Phrixus,
gave counsel to them. "Do not strive to make the passage of the
Symplegades," he said. "All who live around the Sea of Pontus are
friendly to King AEetes they will be warned by him, and they will be
ready to slay us and take the Argo. Let us journey up the River Ister,
and by that way we can come to the Thrinacian Sea that is close to your
land."

The Argonauts thought well of what Phrontis said; into the waters of
the Ister the ship was brought. Many of the Colchian ships passed by
the mouth of the river, and went seeking the Argo toward the passage of
the Symplegades.

But the Argonauts were on a way that was dangerous for them. For
Apsyrtus had not gone toward the Symplegades seeking the Argo. He had
led his soldiers overland to the River Ister at a place that was at a
distance above its mouth. There were islands in the river at that
place, and the soldiers of Apsyrtus landed on the islands, while
Apsyrtus went to the kings of the people around and claimed their
support.

The Argo came and the heroes found themselves cut off. They could not
make their way between the islands that were filled with the Colchian
soldiers, nor along the banks that were lined with men friendly to King
AEetes. Argo was stayed. Apsyrtus sent for the chiefs; he had men enough
to overwhelm them, but he shra