Forthwith the fifty heroes set heartily to work , banging with might and main , and raised such a terrible clatter , that the birds made what haste they could to get away ; and though they had shot half the feathers out of their wings , they were soon seen skimming among the clouds , a long distance off , and looking like a flock of wild geese . Orpheus celebrated this victory by playing a triumphant anthem on his harp , and sang so melodiously that Jason begged him to desist , lest , as the steel-feathered birds had been driven away by an ugly sound , they might be enticed back again by a sweet one . While the Argonauts remained on this island , they saw a small vessel approaching the shore , in which were two young men of princely demeanor , and exceedingly handsome , as young princes generally were , in those days . Now , who do you imagine these two voyagers turned out to be ? Why , if you will believe me , they were the sons of that very Phrixus , who , in his childhood , had been carried to Colchis on the back of the golden-fleeced ram . Since that time , Phrixus had married the king 's daughter ; and the two young princes had been born and brought up at Colchis , and had spent their play-days in the outskirts of the grove , in the center of which the Golden Fleece was hanging upon a tree . They were now on their way to Greece , in hopes of getting back a kingdom that had been wrongfully taken from their father . When the princes understood whither the Argonauts were going , they offered to turn back , and guide them to Colchis . At the same time , however , they spoke as if it were very doubtful whether Jason would succeed in getting the Golden Fleece . According to their account , the tree on which it hung was guarded by a terrible dragon , who never failed to devour , at one mouthful , every person who might venture within his reach . `` There are other difficulties in the way , '' continued the young princes . `` But is not this enough ? Ah , brave Jason , turn back before it is too late . It would grieve us to the heart , if you and your nine and forty brave companions should be eaten up , at fifty mouthfuls , by this execrable dragon . '' `` My young friends , '' quietly replied Jason , `` I do not wonder that you think the dragon very terrible . You have grown up from infancy in the fear of this monster , and therefore still regard him with the awe that children feel for the bugbears and hobgoblins which their nurses have talked to them about . But , in my view of the matter , the dragon is merely a pretty large serpent , who is not half so likely to snap me up at one mouthful as I am to cut off his ugly head , and strip the skin from his body . At all events , turn back who may , I will never see Greece again , unless I carry with me the Golden Fleece . '' `` We will none of us turn back ! '' cried his nine and forty brave comrades .
`` Let us get on board the galley this instant ; and XXXXX the dragon is to make a breakfast of us , much good may it do him . ''
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