But his whole attire was such as people did not very often see ; and as he passed along , the women and children ran to the doors and windows , wondering whither this beautiful youth was journeying , with his leopard 's skin and his golden-tied sandals , and what heroic deeds he meant to perform , with a spear in his right hand and another in his left . I know not how far Jason had traveled , when he came to a turbulent river , which rushed right across his pathway , with specks of white foam among its black eddies , hurrying tumultuously onward , and roaring angrily as it went . Though not a very broad river in the dry seasons of the year , it was now swollen by heavy rains and by the melting of the snow on the sides of Mount Olympus ; and it thundered so loudly , and looked so wild and dangerous , that Jason , bold as he was , thought it prudent to pause upon the brink . The bed of the stream seemed to be strewn with sharp and rugged rocks , some of which thrust themselves above the water . By and by , an uprooted tree , with shattered branches , came drifting along the current , and got entangled among the rocks . Now and then , a drowned sheep , and once the carcass of a cow , floated past . In short , the swollen river had already done a great deal of mischief . It was evidently too deep for Jason to wade , and too boisterous for him to swim ; he could see no bridge ; and as for a boat , had there been any , the rocks would have broken it to pieces in an instant . `` See the poor lad , '' said a cracked voice close to his side . `` He must have had but a poor education , since he does not know how to cross a little stream like this . Or is he afraid of wetting his fine golden-stringed sandals ? It is a pity his four-footed schoolmaster is not here to carry him safely across on his back ! '' Jason looked round greatly surprised , for he did not know that anybody was near . But beside him stood an old woman , with a ragged mantle over her head , leaning on a staff , the top of which was carved into the shape of a cuckoo . She looked very aged , and wrinkled , and infirm ; and yet her eyes , which were as brown as those of an ox , were so extremely large and beautiful , that , when they were fixed on Jason 's eyes , he could see nothing else but them . The old woman had a pomegranate in her hand , although the fruit was then quite out of season . `` Whither are you going , Jason ? '' she now asked . She seemed to know his name , you will observe ; and , indeed , those great brown eyes looked as if they had a knowledge of everything , whether past or to come . While Jason was gazing at her , a peacock strutted forward , and took his stand at the old woman 's side .
`` I am going to Iolchos , '' answered the young man , `` XXXXX bid the wicked King Pelias come down from my father 's throne , and let me reign in his stead . ''
Though across among at into on over since that to