figure moved like clockwork, however, and could
neither hasten his enormous strides nor retard
them, he arrived at the port when they were
just beyond the reach of his club. Neverthe-
less, straddling from headland to headland, aa
his custom was, Talus attempted to strike a
blow at the vessel, and, overreaching himself,
tumbled at full length into the sea, which
splashed high over his gigantic shape, as when
an iceberg turns a somerset. There he lies yet;
and whoever desires to enrich himself by means
of brass had better go thither with a diving bell,
and fish up Talus.

On the homeward voyage, the fourteen youths
and damsels were in excellent spirits, as you
will easily suppose. They spent most of their
time in dancing, unless when the sidelong
breeze made the deck slope too much. In due
season, they came within sight of the coast of
Attica, which was their native country. But
here, I am grieved to tell you, happened a
sad misfortune.

You will remember (what Theseus unfortu-
nately forgot) that his father, King Aegeus,
ha'l enjoined it upon him to hoist sunshin-

[[68]]

p067 _ -chap- _ toc-1 _ p068w _ toc-2 _ +chap+ _ p069

v?