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to leave his rower's bench。
And then； just as the breeze of the evening came up； and just as the
rest of the heroes were leaning back； spent with their labor； the oar that
Heracles still pulled at broke； and half of it was carried away by the waves。
Heracles sat there in ill humor； for he did not know what to do with his
unlaboring hands。
All through the night they went on with a good breeze filling their sails；
and next day they came to the mouth of the River Cius。 There they landed
so that Heracles might get himself an oar。 No sooner did they set their feet
upon the shore than the hero went off into the forest； to pull up a tree that
he might shape into an oar。
Where they had landed was near to the country of the Bebrycians； a
rude people whose king was named Amycus。 Now while Heracles was
away from them this king came with his followers； huge； rude men； all
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THE GOLDEN FLEECE AND THE HEROES WHO LIVED BEFORE ACHILLES
armed with clubs； down to where the Argonauts were lighting their fires
on the beach。
He did not greet them courteously； asking them what manner of men
they were and whither they were bound； nor did he offer them hospitality。
Instead； he shouted at them insolently：
〃Listen to something that you rovers had better know。 I am Amycus；
and any stranger that comes to this land has to get into a boxing bout with
me。 That's the law that I have laid down。 Unless you have one amongst
you who can stand up to me you won't be let go back to your ship。 If you
don't heed my law； look out； for something's going to happen to you。〃
So he shouted； that insolent king； and his followers raised their clubs
and growled approval of what their master said。 But the Argonauts were
not dismayed at the words of Amycus。 One of them stepped toward the
Bebrycians。 He was Polydeuces； good at boxing。
〃Offer us no violence； king；〃 said Polydeuces。 〃We are ready to obey
the law that you have laid down。 Willingly do I take up your challenge；
and I will box a bout with you。〃
The Argonauts cheered when they saw Polydeuces； the good boxer；
step forward； and when they heard what he had to say。 Amycus turned and
shouted to his followers； and one of them brought up two pairs of boxing
gauntletsof rough cowhide they were。 The Argonauts feared that
Polydeuces' hands might have been made numb with pulling at the oar；
and some of them went to him； and took his hands and rubbed them to
make them supple； others took from off his shoulders his beautifully
colored mantle。
Amycus straightway put on his gauntlets and threw off his mantle； he
stood there amongst his followers with his great arms crossed； glowering
at the Argonauts as a wild beast might glower。 And when the two faced
each other Amycus seemed like one of the Earthborn Men； dark and
hugely shaped； while Helen's brother stood there light and beautiful。
Polydeuces was like that star whose beams are lovely at evening…tide。
Like the wave that breaks over a ship and gives the sailors no respite
Amycus came on at Polydeuces。 He pushed in upon him； thinking to bear
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THE GOLDEN FLEECE AND THE HEROES WHO LIVED BEFORE ACHILLES
him down and overwhelm him。 But as the skillful steersman keeps the
ship from being overwhelmed by the monstrous wave； so Polydeuces； all
skill and lightness； baffled the rushes of Amycus。 At last Amycus； standing
on the tips of his toes and rising high above him； tried to bring down his
great fist upon the head of Polydeuces。 The hero swung aside and took the
blow on his shoulder。 Then he struck his blow。 It was a strong one； and
under it the king of the Bebrycians staggered and fell down。 〃You see；〃
said Polydeuces； 〃that we keep your law。〃
The Argonauts shouted； but the rude Bebrycians raised their clubs to
rush upon them。 Then would the heroes have been hard pressed； and
forced； perhaps； to get back to the Argo。 But suddenly Heracles appeared
amongst them； coming up from the forest。
He carried a pine tree in his hands with all its branches still upon it；
and seeing this mighty…statured man appear with the great tree in his hands；
the Bebrycians hurried off； carrying their fallen king with them。 Then the
Argonauts gathered around Polydeuces； saluted him as their champion；
and put a crown of victory upon his head。 Heracles； meanwhile； lopped off
the branches of the pine tree and began to fashion it into an oar。
The fires were lighted upon the shore； and the thoughts of all were
turned to supper。 Then young Hylas； who used to sit by Heracles and keep
bright the hero's arms and armor； took a bronze vessel and went to fetch
water。
Never was there a boy so beautiful as young Hylas。 He had golden
curls that tumbled over his brow。 He had deep blue eyes and a face that
smiled at every glance that was given him； at every word that was said to
him。 Now as he walked through the flowering grasses； with his knees bare；
and with the bright vessel swinging in his hand； he looked most lovely。
Heracles had brought the boy with him from the country of the Dryopians；
he would have him sit beside him on the bench of the Argo； and the ill
humors that often came upon him would go at the words and the smile of
Hylas。
Now the spring that Hylas was going toward was called Pegae； and it
was haunted by the nymphs。 They were dancing around it when they heard
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THE GOLDEN FLEECE AND THE HEROES WHO LIVED BEFORE ACHILLES
Hylas singing。 They stole softly off to watch him。 Hidden behind trees the
nymphs saw the boy come near； and they felt such love for him that they
thought they could never let him go from their sight。
They stole back to their spring； and they sank down below its clear
surface。 Then came Hylas singing a song that he had heard from his
mother。 He bent down to the spring； and the brimming water flowed into
the sounding bronze of the pitcher。 Then hands came out of the water。 One
of the nymphs caught Hylas by the elbow； another put her arms around his
neck； another took the hand that held the vessel of bronze。 The pitcher
sank down to the depths of the spring。 The hands of the nymphs clasped
Hylas tighter； tighter； the water bubbled around him as they