A Primary Reader | Page 9

Helle got dizzy and fell down into the sea.
The boy felt very bad to lose his sister, but went right on.
Then he came to the land Colchis. He killed the sheep and gave the golden fleece to the king.
[Illustration: THE BOY GIVES THE GOLDEN FLEECE TO THE KING.]
The king was glad to have it and nailed it to an oak tree.
[Illustration: THE SHEEP WENT UP INTO THE SKY AND RAN A LONG WAY ON THE CLOUDS]
By the tree was a dragon. The dragon never went to sleep. He would not let any one but the king come to the tree.
So no one could get the golden fleece.

THE GOOD SHIP ARGO.
across untied wade Jason brave party rained creek bridge shoe-strings invited
Jason was a brave young man. He lived a little way from the king's city.
One day the king gave a big party and invited Jason.
It was a very dark night and it rained hard.
Jason had to go across a creek, but there was no bridge.
[Illustration: JASON COMES TO THE KING'S HOUSE.]
The creek was full of water and Jason had to wade.
One of his shoe-strings came untied and he lost his shoe in the water.
When he came to the king's house, he had but one shoe.
* * * * *
knew bring fight wild Argo asked animals shoe Argonauts
The king did not like this, for a fairy had said, "The man who shall come to your house with one shoe, will be king."
So he knew Jason was to be king.
Then he said to Jason, "You may be king when you bring me the golden fleece."
Jason was glad to go, and asked many brave men to go with him.
To get the golden fleece they would have to fight wild men and animals.
They made a big ship which they named "Argo."
The men who went on the Argo were called Argonauts.

JASON AND THE HARPIES.
wings blind nobody strong iron hard skin drive claws scratched brass Harpies
The ship Argo sailed a long way. There were two strong men on the ship. They had wings and could fly.
One day the Argo came to a land where the blind king lived.
This poor king had a hard time. When he sat down to the table to eat, some ugly birds called Harpies, came too. The Harpies had skin like brass and nobody could hurt them. They had claws of iron, and scratched people when they tried to drive them away.
When the king's dinner was ready, the Harpies came and took it away. When Jason and his men came, the king told them all about it. Jason said they would help him.
* * * * *
food drowned tired swords hurt flying
They all sat down to the table. When the food was put on the table, the Harpies came flying in. Jason and his men took their swords.
[Illustration: JASON TRIES TO KILL THE HARPIES.]
They cut at the Harpies but could not hurt them.
Then the two men with wings flew up in the air. The Harpies were afraid and flew away. The men flew after them.
At last the Harpies grew very tired and fell into the sea and were drowned.
Then the men with wings came back.
Now the blind king could eat all he wanted.
* * * * *
thanked rocks moved friends helping good-bye over apart icebergs
It was now time for Jason and his friends to go away.
The king thanked them over and over again for helping him.
When they said good-bye, he told them how to get to the land where they would find the golden fleece.
On the sea where Jason and his men had to sail, were two big rocks. These rocks moved on the waterlike icebergs.
They were as high as a big hill. They would come close to each other, then they would go far apart.
* * * * *
fishes pieces dove past break together row almost rocks
When fishes swam in the water the rocks would come together and kill the fishes.
If birds flew in the air, the rocks would come together and kill birds.
If a boat sailed on the water, the rocks would come together and break the boat into little pieces.
These rocks had been put in the sea, so no one could go to the land where the golden fleece was.
When the ship Argo came to the rocks, Jason sent a dove out.
The rocks came together when the dove was almost past.
Then they went far apart. Jason made his men row as hard as they could.
The rocks began to come together. "Row hard, my men," said Jason.
Just as they got past, the rocks hit, but Jason and his men were all right.
So they came to Colchis.

THE BRASS BULLS.
something plow bulls stronger chains noses mouths smoke plant stone flew stall
When Jason came to Colchis, he went to the king and said, "Will you give me the golden fleece?"
The king wanted to keep