Under the olive-tree she sat down beside him, and told him all
that had happened in Ithaca while he was away, and all that he
must do to win back his kingdom and his Queen. ADAPTED BY MARY
MACGREGOR HOW THE CENTAUR TRAINED THE HEROES Now I have a tale
to tell of heroes who sailed away into a distant land, to win
themselves renown for ever in the adventures of the Golden
Fleece. And what was the Golden Fleece? It was the fleece of the
wondrous ram who bore a boy called Phrixus and a girl called
Helle across the sea; and the old Greeks said that it hung
nailed to a beech-tree in the War-god’s wood. For when a famine
came upon the land, their cruel stepmother wished to kill
Phrixus and Helle, that her own children might reign. She said
Phrixus and Helle must be sacrificed on an altar, to turn away
the anger of the gods, who sent the famine. So the poor children
were brought to the altar, and the priest stood ready with his
knife, when out of the clouds came the Golden Ram, and took them
on his back and vanished.