the deed. Thrice they swung round and round, like hawks who beat
for a partridge; and thrice they snuffed round and round, like
hounds who draw upon a deer. At last they struck upon the scent of
the blood, and they checked for a moment to make sure; and then on
they rushed with a fearful howl, while the wind rattled hoarse in
their wings.

On they rushed, sweeping and flapping, like eagles after a hare;
and Perseus' blood ran cold, for all his courage, as he saw them
come howling on his track; and he cried, 'Bear me well now, brave
sandals, for the hounds of Death are at my heels!'

And well the brave sandals bore him, aloft through cloud and
sunshine, across the shoreless sea; and fast followed the hounds of
Death, as the roar of their wings came down the wind. But the roar
came down fainter and fainter, and the howl of their voices died
away; for the sandals were too swift, even for Gorgons, and by
nightfall they were far behind, two black specks in the southern
sky, till the sun sank and he saw them no more.

Then he came again to Atlas, and the garden of the Nymphs; and when
the giant heard him coming he groaned, and said, 'Fulfil thy
promise to me.' Then Perseus held up to him the Gorgon's head, and
he had rest from all his toil; for he became a crag of stone, which
sleeps for ever far above the clouds.

Then he thanked the Nymphs, and asked them, 'By what road shall I
go homeward again, for I wandered far round in coming hither?'

And they wept and cried, 'Go home no more, but stay and play with