Jason had been looking straight into the face
of the image when these words were spoken.
But he could hardly believe either his ears or his
eyes. The truth was, however, that the oaken
lips had moved, u.nd, to all appearance, the voice
had proceeded from the statue's mouth. Recov
ering a little from his surprise, Jason bethought
himself that the image had been carved out of
the wood of the Talking Oak, and that, there-
fore, it was really no great wonder, but, on the
contrary, the most natural thing in the world,
that it should possess the faculty of speech. It
would have been very odd, indeed, if it had not.
But certainly it was a great piece of good for-
tune that he should be able to carry so wise a
block of wood along with him in his perilous
voyage.

"Tell me, wondrous image," exclaimed Jason,
"since you inherit the wisdom of the Speak-
ing Oak of Dodona, whose daughter you are,
tell me, where shall I find fifty bold youths, who
will take each of them an oar of my galley?
They must have sturdy arms to row, and brave
hearts to encounter perils, or we shall never win
the Golden Fleece."

[[295]]

p294 _ -chap- _ toc-1 _ p295w _ toc-2 _ +chap+ _ p296

v?