in her sleep and is just about to turn
over. That is Medusa. Do not look at her! The sight would turn you to
stone! Look at the reflection of her face and figure in the bright
mirror of your shield."

[Illustration: PERSEUS SLAYING THE MEDUSA]

Perseus now understood Quicksilver's motive for so earnestly exhorting
him to polish his shield. In its surface he could safely look at the
reflection of the Gorgon's face. And there it was--that terrible
countenance--mirrored in the brightness of the shield, with the
moonlight falling over it and displaying all its horror. The snakes,
whose venomous natures could not altogether sleep, kept twisting
themselves over the forehead. It was the fiercest and most horrible
face that ever was seen or imagined, and yet with a strange, fearful
and savage kind of beauty in it. The eyes were closed and the Gorgon
was still in a deep slumber; but there was an unquiet expression
disturbing her features, as if the monster was troubled with an ugly
dream. She gnashed her white tusks and dug into the sand with her
brazen claws.

The snakes, too, seemed to feel Medusa's dream and to be made more
restless by it. They twined themselves into tumultuous knots, writhed
fiercely and uplifted a hundred hissing heads without opening their
eyes.

"Now, now!" whispered Quicksilver, who was growing impatient. "Make a
dash at the monster!"

"But be calm," said the grave, melodious voice at the young man's
side. "Look in your shield as you fly downward, and take care that you
do not miss your first stroke."

Perseus flew cautiously downward, still keeping his eyes on Medusa's
face, as reflected in his shield. The nearer he came, the more
terrible did the snaky visage and metallic body of the monster grow.
At last, when he found himself hovering over her within arm's length,
Perseus uplifted his sword, while at the same instant each separate
snake upon the Gorgon's head stretched threateningly upward, and
Medusa unclosed her eyes. But she awoke too late. The sword was sharp,
the stroke fell like a lightning flash, and the head of the wicked
Medusa tumbled from her body!

"Admirably done!" cried Quicksilver. "Make haste and clap the head
into your magic wallet."

To the astonishment of Perseus, the small, embroidered wallet which he
had hung about his neck and which had hitherto been no bigger than a
purse, grew all at once large enough to contain Medusa's head. As
quick as thought, he snatched it up