As for the peacock , it alighted on the old dame 's shoulder . Jason 's two spears , one in each hand , kept him from stumbling , and enabled him to feel his way among the hidden rocks ; although every instant , he expected that his companion and himself would go down the stream , together with the driftwood of shattered trees , and the carcasses of the sheep and cow . Down came the cold , snowy torrent from the steep side of Olympus , raging and thundering as if it had a real spite against Jason , or , at all events , were determined to snatch off his living burden from his shoulders . When he was half way across , the uprooted tree -LRB- which I have already told you about -RRB- broke loose from among the rocks , and bore down upon him , with all its splintered branches sticking out like the hundred arms of the giant Briareus . It rushed past , however , without touching him . But the next moment his foot was caught in a crevice between two rocks , and stuck there so fast , that , in the effort to get free , he lost one of his golden-stringed sandals . At this accident Jason could not help uttering a cry of vexation . `` What is the matter , Jason ? '' asked the old woman . `` Matter enough , '' said the young man . `` I have lost a sandal here among the rocks . And what sort of a figure shall I cut , at the court of King Pelias , with a golden-stringed sandal on one foot , and the other foot bare ! '' `` Do not take it to heart , '' answered his companion cheerily . `` You never met with better fortune than in losing that sandal . It satisfies me that you are the very person whom the Speaking Oak has been talking about . '' There was no time , just then , to inquire what the Speaking Oak had said . But the briskness of her tone encouraged the young man ; and , besides , he had never in his life felt so vigorous and mighty as since taking this old woman on his back . Instead of being exhausted , he gathered strength as he went on ; and , struggling up against the torrent , he at last gained the opposite shore , clambered up the bank , and set down the old dame and her peacock safely on the grass . As soon as this was done , however , he could not help looking rather despondently at his bare foot , with only a remnant of the golden string of the sandal clinging round his ankle . `` You will get a handsomer pair of sandals by and by , '' said the old woman , with a kindly look out of her beautiful brown eyes .
`` Only let King XXXXX get a glimpse of that bare foot , and you shall see him turn as pale as ashes , I promise you .
Briareus Jason Oak Olympus Pelias driftwood remnant sandal spears vexation