tic that perhaps you might call it severe; and as for
the mouth, it seemed just ready to unclose its lips and utter words of
the deepest wisdom.

Jason was delighted with the oaken image and gave the carver no rest
until it was completed and set up where a figurehead has always stood,
from that time to this, in the vessel's prow.

"And now," cried he, as he stood gazing at the calm, majestic face of
the statue, "I must go to the Talking Oak and inquire what next to
do."

"There is no need of that, Jason," said a voice which, though it was
far lower, reminded him of the mighty tones of the great oak. "When
you desire good advice you can seek it of me."

Jason had been looking straight into the face of the image when these
words were spoken. But he could hardly believe either his ears or his
eyes. The truth was, however, that the oaken lips had moved, and to
all appearance, the voice had proceeded from the statue's mouth.
Recovering a little from his surprise, Jason bethought himself that
the image had been carved out of the wood of the Talking Oak, and
that, therefore, it was really no great wonder, but, on the contrary,
the most natural thing in the world, that it should possess the
faculty of speech. It should have been very odd indeed if it had not.
But certainly it was a great piece of good fortune that he should be
able to carry so wise a block of wood along with him in his perilous
voyage.

"Tell me, wondrous image," exclaimed Jason, "since you inherit the
wisdom of the Speaking Oak of Dodona, whose daughter you are--tell me,
where shall I find fifty bold youths who will take each of them an oar
of my galley? They must have sturdy arms to row and brave hearts to
encounter perils, or we shall never win the Golden Fleece."

"Go," replied the oaken image, "go, summon all the heroes of Greece."

And, in fact, considering what a great deed was to be done, could any
advice be wiser than this which Jason received from the figurehead of
his vessel? He lost no time in sending messengers to all the cities,
and making known to the whole people of Greece that Prince Jason, the
son of King AEson, was going in quest of the Fleece of Gold, and he
desired the help of forty-nine of the bravest and strongest young men
alive, to row his vessel and share his dangers. And Jason himself
would be the fiftieth.

At this news the adventurous youths all over the country began to
bestir themselves. Some of them had already fought w