They had heard
the hiss of Medusa's serpents, and now they looked upon her
headless body. They rose up on their golden wings, and their
brazen hands were stretched out to tear the one who had slain
Medusa. As they flew after him they screamed aloud.
Although he flew like the wind the Gorgon sisters would have
overtaken him if he had been plain to their eyes. But the dogskin
cap of Hades saved him, for the Gorgon sisters did not know
whether he was above or below them, behind or before them. On
Perseus went, flying toward where Atlas stood. He flew over this
place, over Libya. Drops of blood from Medusa's head fell down
upon the desert. They were changed and became the deadly serpents
that are on these sands and around these rocks. On and on Perseus
flew toward Atlas and toward the hidden valley where the nymphs
who were again to guard the magic treasures had their dwelling
place. But before he came to the nymphs Perseus had another
adventure.
In Ethopia, which is at the other side of Libya, there ruled a
king whose name was Cepheus. This king had permitted his queen to
boast that she was more beautiful than the nymphs of the sea. In
punishment for the queen's impiety and for the king's folly
Poseidon sent a monster out of the sea to waste that country.
Every year the monster came, destroying more and more of the
country of Ethopia. Then the king asked of an oracle what he
should do to save his land and his people.
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