`` Was it the girdle of Venus , '' inquired the prettiest of the damsels , `` which makes women beautiful ? '' `` No , '' answered the stranger . `` It had formerly been the sword-belt of Mars ; and it can only make the wearer valiant and courageous . '' `` An old sword-belt ! '' cried the damsel , tossing her head . `` Then I should not care about having it ! '' `` You are right , '' said the stranger . Going on with his wonderful narrative , he informed the maidens that as strange an adventure as ever happened was when he fought with Geryon , the six-legged man . This was a very odd and frightful sort of figure , as you may well believe . Any person , looking at his tracks in the sand or snow , would suppose that three sociable companions had been walking along together . On hearing his footsteps at , a little distance , it was no more than reasonable to judge that several people must be coming . But it was only the strange man Geryon clattering onward , with his six legs ! Six legs , and one gigantic body ! Certainly , he must have been a very queer monster to look at ; and , my stars , what a waste of shoe-leather ! When the stranger had finished the story of his adventures , he looked around at the attentive faces of the maidens . `` Perhaps you may have heard of me before , '' said he , modestly . `` My name is Hercules ! '' `` We had already guessed it , '' replied the maidens ; `` for your wonderful deeds are known all over the world . We do not think it strange , any longer , that you should set out in quest of the golden apples of the Hesperides . Come , sisters , let us crown the hero with flowers ! ''
Then they flung beautiful wreaths over his stately head and mighty shoulders , so XXXXX the lion 's skin was almost entirely covered with roses .
On about along as at before of than that with