`` Now fly ; for the other Gorgons will do their utmost to take vengeance for Medusa 's death . '' It was , indeed , necessary to take flight ; for Perseus had not done the deed so quietly , but that the clash of his sword , and the hissing of the snakes , and the thump of Medusa 's head as it tumbled upon the sea-beaten sand , awoke the other two monsters . There they sat , for an instant , sleepily rubbing their eyes with their brazen fingers , while all the snakes on their heads reared themselves on end with surprise , and with venomous malice against they knew not what . But when the Gorgons saw the scaly carcass of Medusa , headless , and her golden wings all ruffled , and half spread out on the sand , it was really awful to hear what yells and screeches they set up . And then the snakes ! They sent forth a hundred-fold hiss , with one consent , and Medusa 's snakes answered them out of the magic wallet . No sooner were the Gorgons broad awake , than they hurtled upward into the air , brandishing their brass talons , gnashing their horrible tusks , and flapping their huge wings so wildly , that some of the golden feathers were shaken out , and floated down upon the shore . And there , perhaps , those very feathers he scattered , till this day . Up rose the Gorgons , as I tell you , staring horribly about , in hopes of turning somebody to stone . Had Perseus looked them in the face , or had he fallen into their clutches , his poor mother would never have kissed her boy again ! But he took good care to turn his eyes another way ; and , as he wore the helmet of invisibility , the Gorgons knew not in what direction to follow him ; nor did he fail to make the best use of the winged slippers , by soaring upward a perpendicular mile or so . At that height , when the screams of those abominable creatures sounded faintly beneath him , he made a straight course for the island of Seriphus , in order to carry Medusa 's head to King Polydectes . I have no time to tell you of several marvellous things that befell Perseus , on his way homeward ; such as his killing a hideous sea-monster , just as it was on the point of devouring a beautiful maiden ; nor how he changed an enormous giant into a mountain of stone , merely by showing him the head of the Gorgon . If you doubt this latter story , you may make a voyage to Africa , some day or other , and see the very mountain , which is still known by the ancient giant 's name . Finally , our brave Perseus arrived at the island , where he expected to see his dear mother . But , during his absence , the wicked king had treated Danae so very ill , that she was compelled to make her escape , and had taken refuge in a temple , where some good old priests were extremely kind to her . These praiseworthy priests , and the kind-hearted fisherman , who had first shown hospitality to Danae and little Perseus when he found them afloat in the chest , seem to have been the only persons on the island who cared about doing right . All the rest of the people , as well as King Polydectes himself , were remarkably ill-behaved , and deserved no better destiny than that which was now to happen . Not finding his mother at home , Perseus went straight to the palace and was immediately ushered into the presence of the king . Polydectes was by no means rejoiced to see him ; for he had felt almost certain , in his own evil mind , that the Gorgons would have torn the poor young man to pieces , and have eaten him up , out of the way .
However , seeing him safely returned , he put the best face he could XXXXX the matter and asked Perseus how he had succeeded .
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