30 THE GORGON’S HEAD.

Thus the three old dames got along about as comfort-
ably, upon the whole, as if they could all see at once.
She who chanced to have the eye in her forehead led the
other two by the hands, peeping sharply about her, all
the while; insomuch that Perseus dreaded lest she should
see right through the thick clump of bushes behind which
he and Quicksilver had hidden themselves. My stars!
it was positively terrible to be within reach of so very
sharp an eye!

But, before they reached the clump of bushes, one of
the Three Gray Women spoke.

“Sister! Sister Scarecrow!” cried she, “you have
had the eye long enough. It is my turn now!”

“Let me keep it a moment longer, Sister Nightmare,”
answered Searecrow. “I thought I had a glimpse of
something behind that thick bush.”

“ Well, and what of that?” retorted Nightmare, peev-
ishly. “Cant I see into a thick bush as easily as your-
self? The eye is mine, as well as yours; and I know
the use of it as well as you, or may be a little better. I
insist upon taking a peep immediately !”

But here the third sister, whose name was Shakejoint,
began to complain, and said that it was her turn to have
the eye, and that Scarecrow and Nightmare wanted to
keep it all to themselves. To end the dispute, old Dame
Scarecrow took the eye out of her forehead, and held it
forth in her hand.

“Take it, one of you,” cried she, “and quit this fool-
ish quarrelling. For my part, I shall be glad of a little
thick darkness. Take it quickly, however, or I must
clap it into my own head again!”