those which he had helped to build for Phcenix
and Cilix, and afterwards for Thasus. In later
times, when multitudes of people came from great
distances to put questions to the oracle, a spacious
temple of marble was erected over the spot.
But in the days of Cadmus, as I have told you,
there was only this rustic bower, with its abun-
dance of green foliage, and a tuft of shrubbery,
that ran wild over the mysterious hole in the
hillside.

When Cadmus had thrust a passage through
the tangled boughs, and made his way into the
bower, he did not at first discern the half-hidden
cavity. But soon he felt a cold stream of air
rushing out of it, with so much force that it
shook the ringlets on his cheek. Pulling away
the shrubbery which clustered over the hole, he
bent forward, and spoke in a distinct but rev-
erential tone, as if addressing some unseen per-
sonage inside of the mountain.

"Sacred oracle of Delphi," said he, "whither
shall I go next in quest of my dear sister Eu
ropa?"

There was at first a deep silence, and then a
rushing sound, or a noise like a long sigh,

[[136]]

p135 _ -chap- _ toc-1 _ p136w _ toc-2 _ +chap+ _ p137

v?