asures were kept. Gold and bronze lay
there in piles, and there were great boxes of splendid clothes, and
casks of wine. The heavy folding doors of the treasure chamber were
shut day and night, and the old nurse was the keeper of the treasures.

Telemachus bade her get ready corn and wine for the voyage.

"When my mother has gone to rest I will take them away," he said, "for
this night I go to seek my father across the sea."

At this the old nurse began to cry.

"Do not go, dear child," she wailed. "Thou art our only one, and we
love thee so well. Odysseus is dead, and what canst thou do, sailing
far away across the deep sea? As soon as thou art gone, those wicked
men will begin to plot evil against thee. Do not go. Do not go. There
is no need for thee to risk thy life on the sea and go wandering far
from home."

"Take heart, nurse," said Telemachus. "The goddess Athene has told me
to go, so all will be well. But promise me not to tell my dear mother
that I am gone until she misses me. For I do not wish to mar her fair
face with tears."

The nurse promised, and began to make ready all that Telemachus
wished.

Meantime Athene, in the likeness of Telemachus, found a swift-sailing
ship, and men to sail it. When darkness fell, she sent sleep on the
wooers and led Telemachus down to the shore where his men sat by their
oars.

To the palace, where every one slept and all was still and quiet,
Telemachus brought his men. None but the old nurse knew he was going
away, but they found the food and wine that she had got ready and
carried it down to the ship. Then Athene went on board, and Telemachus
sat beside her. A fresh west wind filled the sails and went singing
over the waves. The dark water surged up at the bow as the ship cut
through it. And all night long and till the dawn, the ship sailed
happily on her way.

At sunrise they came to land, and Athene and Telemachus went on shore.
The rulers of the country welcomed them and treated them well, but
could tell nothing of Odysseus after the siege of Troy was over.
Athene gave Telemachus into their care, then, turning herself into a
sea-eagle, she flew swiftly away, leaving them amazed because they
knew she must be one of the gods.

While Telemachus sought for news of his father in this kingdom, and
the kingdoms near it, the wooers began to miss him at their feasts.
They fancied he was away hunting, until, one day, as they played games
in front of the palace, the ma