THE GORGON’S HEAD. 39

surf-line upon the long beaches, or foamed against the
rocky cliffs, with a roar that was thunderous, in the
lower world; although it became a gentle murmur, like
the voice of a baby half asleep, before it reached the ears
of Perseus. Just then a voice spoke in the air close by
him. It seemed to be a woman’s voice, and was melo-
dious, though not exactly what might be called sweet,
but grave and mild.

“* Perseus,”’ said the voice, ‘ there are the Gorgons.”

“Where?” exclaimed Perseus. ‘‘ I cannot see them.”

“On the shore of that island beneath you,” replied
the voice. “A pebble, dropped from your hand, would
strike in the midst of them.”’

“YT told you she would be the first to discover them,”’
said Quicksilver to Perseus. ‘‘ And there they are!”

Straight downward, two or three thousand feet below
him, Perseus perceived a small island, with the sea break-
ing into white foam all around its rocky shore, except on
one side, where there was a beach of snowy sand. He
descended towards it, and, looking earnestly at a cluster
or heap of brightness, at the foot of a precipice of black
rocks, behold, there were the terrible Gorgons! They
lay fast asleep, soothed by the thunder of the sea; for
it required a tumult that would have deafened everybody
else to lull such fierce creatures into slumber. The
moonlight glistened on their steely scales, and on their
golden wings, which drooped idly over the sand. Their
brazen claws, horrible to look at, were thrust out, and
clutched the wave-beaten fragments of rock, while the
sleeping Gorgons dreamed of tearing some poor mortal