ast, however, without touching
him. But the next moment his foot was caught in a crevice between two
rocks and stuck there so fast that in the effort to get free he lost
one of his golden-stringed sandals.

At this accident Jason could not help uttering a cry of vexation.

"What is the matter, Jason?" asked the old woman.

"Matter enough," said the young man. "I have lost a sandal here among
the rocks. And what sort of a figure shall I cut at the court of King
Pelias with a golden-stringed sandal on one foot and the other foot
bare!"

"Do not take it to heart," answered his companion cheerily. "You never
met with better fortune than in losing that sandal. It satisfies me
that you are the very person whom the Speaking Oak has been talking
about."

There was no time just then to inquire what the Speaking Oak had said.
But the briskness of her tone encouraged the young man; and, besides,
he had never in his life felt so vigorous and mighty as since taking
this old woman on his back. Instead of being exhausted he gathered
strength as he went on; and, struggling up against the torrent, he at
last gained the opposite shore, clambered up the bank and set down
the old dame and her peacock safely on the grass. As soon as this was
done, however, he could not help looking rather despondently at his
bare foot, with only a remnant of the golden string of the sandal
clinging round his ankle.

"You will get a handsomer pair of sandals by and by," said the old
woman, with a kindly look out of her beautiful brown eyes. "Only let
King Pelias get a glimpse of that bare foot and you shall see him turn
as pale as ashes, I promise you. There is your path. Go along, my good
Jason, and my blessing go with you. And when you sit on your throne
remember the old woman whom you helped over the river."

With these words she hobbled away, giving him a smile over her
shoulder as she departed. Whether the light of her beautiful brown
eyes threw a glory round about her, or whatever the cause might be,
Jason fancied that there was something very noble and majestic in her
figure after all, and that, though her gait seemed to be a rheumatic
hobble, yet she moved with as much grace and dignity as any queen on
earth. Her peacock, which had now fluttered down from her shoulder,
strutted behind her in prodigious pomp and spread out its magnificent
tail on purpose for Jason to admire it.

When the old dame and her peacock were out of sight Jason set f