With the sharp sword at his side and the bright shield upon his arm,
Perseus flew bravely onward in search of the dreadful Gorgons; but he
had the Cap of Darkness upon his head, and you could no more have seen
him than you can see the wind. He flew so swiftly that it was not long
until he had crossed the mighty ocean which encircles the earth, and had
come to the sunless land which lies beyond; and then he knew, from what
the Maidens had told him, that the lair of the Gorgons could not be far
away.
He heard a sound as of some one breathing heavily, and he looked around
sharply to see where it came from. Among the foul weeds which grew
close to the bank of a muddy river there was something which glittered
in the pale light. He flew a little nearer; but he did not dare to look
straight forward, lest he should all at once meet the gaze of a Gorgon,
and be changed into stone. So he turned around, and held the shining
shield before him in such a way that by looking into it he could see
objects behind him as in a mirror.
Ah, what a dreadful sight it was! Half hidden among the weeds lay the
three monsters, fast asleep, with their golden wings folded about them.
Their brazen claws were stretched out as though ready to seize their
prey; and their shoulders were covered with sleeping snakes. The two
largest of the Gorgons lay with their heads tucked under their wings as
birds hide their heads when they go to sleep. But the third, who lay
between them, slept with her face turned up towards the sky; and Perseus
knew that she was Medusa.
Very stealthily he went nearer and nearer, always with his back towards
the monsters and always looking into his bright shield to see where to
go. Then he drew his sharp sword and, dashing quickly downward, struck a
back blow, so sure, so swift, that the head of Medusa was cut from her
shoulders and the black blood gushed like a river from her neck. Quick
as thought he thrust the terrible head into his magic pouch and leaped
again into the air, and flew away with the speed of the wind.
Then the two older Gorgons awoke, and rose with dreadful screams, and
spread their great wings, and dashed after him. They could not see him,
for the Cap of Darkness hid him from even their eyes; but they scented
the blood of the head which he carried in the pouch, and like hounds in
the chase, they followed him, sniffing the air. And as he flew through
the clouds he could hear their dreadful cries and the clatter of their
golden wings and the snapping of their horrible jaws. But the Magic
Slippers were faster than any wings, and in a little while the monsters
were left far behind, and their cries were heard no more; and Perseus
flew on alone.