26 HISTORICAL TALES.

ous spot, at the suggestion of Phineus, a dove was
let loose. It flew with all speed through the open-
ing, but the rocks clashed together so quickly be-
hind it that it lost a few feathers of its tail. Now
was their opportunity. The rowers dashed their «
ready oars into the water, shot forward with rapid
speed, and passed safely through, only losing the
ornaments at the stern of their ship. Their escape,
however, they owed to the goddess Minerva, whose
strong hand held the rocks asunder during the brief
interval of their passage. It had been decreed by
the gods that if any ship escaped these dreadful
rocks they should forever cease to move. The
escape of the Argo fulfilled this decree, and the
Symplegades have ever since remained immovable.

Onward went the daring voyagers, passing in
their journey Mount Caucasus, on whose bare rock
Prometheus, for the crime of giving fire to mankind,
was chained, while an eagle devoured his liver.
The adventurers saw this dread eagle and heard the
groans of the sufferer himself. Helpless to release
him whom the gods had condemned, they rowed
rapidly away.

Finally Colchis was reached, a land then ruled
over by King etes, from whom the heroes de-
manded the golden fleece, stating that they had
been sent thither by the gods themselves. Actes
heard their request with anger, and told them that
if they wanted the fleece they could have it on one
condition only. He possessed two fierce and tame-
less bulls, with brazen feet and fire-breathing nostrils.
These had been the gift of the god Vulcan. Jason