But who ever saw a brazen image that had sense enough to walk round an island three times a day , as this giant walks round the island of Crete , challenging every vessel that comes nigh the shore ? And , on the other hand , what living thing , unless his sinews were made of brass , would not be weary of marching eighteen hundred miles in the twenty-four hours , as Talus does , without ever sitting down to rest ? He is a puzzler , take him how you will . '' Still the vessel went bounding onward ; and now Theseus could hear the brazen clangor of the giant 's footsteps , as he trod heavily upon the sea-beaten rocks , some of which were seen to crack and crumble into the foaming waves beneath his weight . As they approached the entrance of the port , the giant straddled clear across it , with a foot firmly planted on each headland , and uplifting his club to such a height that its butt-end was hidden in the cloud , he stood in that formidable posture , with the sun gleaming all over his metallic surface . There seemed nothing else to be expected but that , the next moment , he would fetch his great club down , slam bang , and smash the vessel into a thousand pieces , without heeding how many innocent people he might destroy ; for there is seldom any mercy in a giant , you know , and quite as little in a piece of brass clockwork . But just when Theseus and his companions thought the blow was coming , the brazen lips unclosed themselves , and the figure spoke . `` Whence come you , strangers ? '' And when the ringing voice ceased , there was just such a reverberation as you may have heard within a great church bell , for a moment or two after the stroke of the hammer . `` From Athens ! '' shouted the master in reply . `` On what errand ? '' thundered the Man of Brass . And he whirled his club aloft more threateningly than ever , as if he were about to smite them with a thunderstroke right amidships , because Athens , so little while ago , had been at war with Crete . `` We bring the seven youths and the seven maidens , '' answered the master , `` to be devoured by the Minotaur ! '' `` Pass ! '' cried the brazen giant . That one loud word rolled all about the sky , while again there was a booming reverberation within the figure 's breast . The vessel glided between the headlands of the port , and the giant resumed his march . In a few moments , this wondrous sentinel was far away , flashing in the distant sunshine , and revolving with immense strides round the island of Crete , as it was his never-ceasing task to do .
No sooner had they entered the harbor than a party XXXXX the guards of King Minos came down to the water side , and took charge of the fourteen young men and damsels .
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