Oo THE GORGON’S HEAD.

with his eyes shut, or, at least, without so much as a
glance at the enemy with whom he was contending. -
Else, while his arm was lifted to strike, he would stiffen
ito stone, and stand with that uplifted arm for centuries,
until time, and the wind and weather, should crumble
him quite away. This would be a very sad thing to be-
fall a young man who wanted to perform a great: many
brave deeds, and to enjoy a great deal of happiness, in
this bright and beautiful world.

So disconsolate did these thoughts make him, that
Perseus could not bear to tell his mother what he had
undertaken to do. He therefore took his shield, girded
on his sword, and crossed over from the island to the
mainland, where he sat down in a solitary place, and
hardly reframed from shedding tears. |

But, while he was in this sorrowful mood, he heard
a voice close beside him.

“ Perseus,” said the voice, ‘why are you sad?”

He lifted his head from his hands, in which he had
hidden it, and, behold! all alone as Perseus had sup-
posed himself to be, there was a stranger in the solitary
place. It was a brisk, intelligent, and remarkably shrewd-
looking young man, with a cloak over his shoulders, an
odd sort of cap on his head, a strangely twisted staff in
his hand, and a short and very crooked sword hanging
by his side. He was exceedingly light and active in his
figure, like a person much accustomed to gymnastic ex-
ercises, and well able to leap or run. Above all, the
stranger had such a cheerful, knowing, and helpful aspect
(though it was certainly a little mischievous, into the