Withthisintention，hetookaspearineachhand，andthrewaleopard’sskinoverhisshoulders，tokeepofftherain，andsetforthonhistravels，withhislongyellowringletswavinginthewind。Thepartofhisdressonwhichhemostpridedhimselfwasapairofsandals，thathadbeenhisfather’s。Theywerehandsomelyembroidered，andweretieduponhisfeetwithstringsofgold。Buthiswholeattirewassuchaspeopledidnotveryoftensee；andashepassedalong，thewomenandchildrenrantothedoorsandwindows，wonderingwhitherthisbeautifulyouthwasjourneying，withhisleopard’sskinandhisgolden-tiedsandals，andwhatheroicdeedshemeanttoperform，withaspearinhisrighthandandanotherinhisleft。
IknownothowfarJasonhadtraveled，whenhecametoaturbulentriver，whichrushedrightacrosshispathway，withspecksofwhitefoamamongitsblackeddies，hurryingtumultuouslyonward，androaringangrilyasitwent。Thoughnotaverybroadriverinthedryseasonsoftheyear，itwasnowswollenbyheavyrainsandbythemeltingofthesnowonthesidesofMountOlympus；anditthunderedsoloudly，andlookedsowildanddangerous，thatJason，boldashewas，thoughtitprudenttopauseuponthebrink。Thebedofthestreamseemedtobestrewnwithsharpandruggedrocks，someofwhichthrustthemselvesabovethewater。Byandby，anuprootedtree，withshatteredbranches，camedriftingalongthecurrent，andgotentangledamongtherocks。Nowandthen，adrownedsheep，andoncethecarcassofacow，floatedpast。
Inshort，theswollenriverhadalreadydoneagreatdealofmischief。ItwasevidentlytoodeepforJasontowade，andtooboisterousforhimtoswim；hecouldseenobridge；andasforaboat，hadtherebeenany，therockswouldhavebrokenittopiecesinaninstant。
\"Seethepoorlad，\"saidacrackedvoiceclosetohisside。\"Hemusthavehadbutapooreducation，sincehedoesnotknowhowtocrossalittlestreamlikethis。Orisheafraidofwettinghisfinegolden-stringedsandals？Itisapityhisfour-footedschoolmasterisnotheretocarryhimsafelyacrossonhisback！\"
Jasonlookedroundgreatlysurprised，forhedidnotknowthatanybodywasnear。Butbesidehimstoodanoldwoman，witharaggedmantleoverherhead，leaningonastaff，thetopofwhichwascarvedintotheshapeofacuckoo。Shelookedveryaged，andwrinkled，andinfirm；andyethereyes，whichwereasbrownasthoseofanox，weresoextremelylargeandbeautiful，that，whentheywerefixedonJason’seyes，hecouldseenothingelsebutthem。Theoldwomanhadapomegranateinherhand，althoughthefruitwasthenquiteoutofseason。