Without more words on either side , there ensued the most awful fight between Theseus and the Minotaur that ever happened beneath the sun or moon . I really know not how it might have turned out , if the monster , in his first headlong rush against Theseus , had not missed him , by a hair 's breadth , and broken one of his horns short off against the stone wall . On this mishap , he bellowed so intolerably that a part of the labyrinth tumbled down , and all the inhabitants of Crete mistook the noise for an uncommonly heavy thunder storm . Smarting with the pain , he galloped around the open space in so ridiculous a way that Theseus laughed at it , long afterwards , though not precisely at the moment . After this , the two antagonists stood valiantly up to one another , and fought , sword to horn , for a long while . At last , the Minotaur made a run at Theseus , grazed his left side with his horn , and flung him down ; and thinking that he had stabbed him to the heart , he cut a great caper in the air , opened his bull mouth from ear to ear , and prepared to snap his head off . But Theseus by this time had leaped up , and caught the monster off his guard . Fetching a sword stroke at him with all his force , he hit him fair upon the neck , and made his bull head skip six yards from his human body , which fell down flat upon the ground . So now the battle was ended . Immediately the moon shone out as brightly as if all the troubles of the world , and all the wickedness and the ugliness that infest human life , were past and gone forever . And Theseus , as he leaned on his sword , taking breath , felt another twitch of the silken cord ; for all through the terrible encounter , he had held it fast in his left hand . Eager to let Ariadne know of his success , he followed the guidance of the thread , and soon found himself at the entrance of the labyrinth . `` Thou hast slain the monster , '' cried Ariadne , clasping her hands . `` Thanks to thee , dear Ariadne , '' answered Theseus , `` I return victorious . '' `` Then , '' said Ariadne , `` we must quickly summon thy friends , and get them and thyself on board the vessel before dawn . If morning finds thee here , my father will avenge the Minotaur . '' To make my story short , the poor captives were awakened , and , hardly knowing whether it was not a joyful dream , were told of what Theseus had done , and that they must set sail for Athens before daybreak . Hastening down to the vessel , they all clambered on board , except Prince Theseus , who lingered behind them on the strand , holding Ariadne 's hand clasped in his own . `` Dear maiden , '' said he , `` thou wilt surely go with us . Thou art too gentle and sweet a child for such an iron-hearted father as King Minos .
He cares no more for thee than a granite rock cares for the little flower that grows in one XXXXX its crevices .
After If before by except for of to whether with