you have profited under so excellent a teacher,
will you allow me to ask you a single question?"

"I do not pretend to be very wise," said Jason.
"But ask me what you please, and I will answer
to the best of my ability."

Now King Pelias meant cunningly to entrap
the young man, and to make him say something
that should be the cause of mischief and destruc-
tion to himself. So, with a crafty and evil smile
upon his face, he spoke as follows: --

"What would you do, brave Jason," asked he,
"if there were a man in the world, by whom, as
you had reason to believe, you were doomed to
be ruined and slain what would you do, I say,
if that man stood before you, and in your
power?"

When Jason saw the malice and wickedness
which King Pelias could not prevent from gleam-
ing out of his eyes, he probably guessed that the
king had discovered what he came for, and that
he intended to turn his own words against him-
self. Still he scorned to tell a falsehood. Like
an upright and honorable prince, as he was, he
determined to speak out the real truth. Since
the king had chosen to ask him the question,

[[288]]

p287 _ -chap- _ toc-1 _ p288w _ toc-2 _ +chap+ _ p289

v?