ng at the Argonauts as a wild beast might glower. And when the
two faced each other Amycus seemed like one of the Earthborn Men, dark
and hugely shaped, while Helen's brother stood there light and
beautiful. Polydeuces was like that star whose beams are lovely at
evening-tide.

Like the wave that breaks over a ship and gives the sailors no respite
Amycus came on at Polydeuces. He pushed in upon him, thinking to bear
him down and overwhelm him. But as the skillful steersman keeps the
ship from being overwhelmed by the monstrous wave, so Polydeuces, all
skill and lightness, baffled the rushes of Amycus. At last Amycus,
standing on the tips of his toes and rising high above him, tried to
bring down his great fist upon the head of Polydeuces. The hero swung
aside and took the blow on his shoulder. Then he struck his blow. It
was a strong one, and under it the king of the Bebrycians staggered and
fell down. "You see," said Polydeuces, "that we keep your law."

The Argonauts shouted, but the rude Bebrycians raised their clubs to
rush upon them. Then would the heroes have been hard pressed, and
forced, perhaps, to get back to the Argo. But suddenly Heracles
appeared amongst them, coming up from the forest.

He carried a pine tree in his hands with all its branches still upon
it, and seeing this mighty-statured man appear with the great tree in
his hands, the Bebrycians hurried off, carrying their fallen king with
them. Then the Argonauts gathered around Polydeuces, saluted him as
their champion, and put a crown of victory upon his head. Heracles,
meanwhile, lopped off the branches of the pine tree and began to
fashion it into an oar.

The fires were lighted upon the shore, and the thoughts of all were
turned to supper. Then young Hylas, who used to sit by Heracles and
keep bright the hero's arms and armor, took a bronze vessel and went to
fetch water.

Never was there a boy so beautiful as young Hylas. He had golden curls
that tumbled over his brow. He had deep blue eyes and a face that
smiled at every glance that was given him, at every word that was said
to him. Now as he walked through the flowering grasses, with his knees
bare, and with the bright vessel swinging in his hand, he looked most
lovely. Heracles had brought the boy with him from the country of the
Dryopians; he would have him sit beside him on the bench of the Argo,
and the ill humors that often came upon him would go at the words and
the smile of Hylas.