THE GORGON’S HEAD
slenderest twig. And now we will set out. The next thing is to find the Three Gray Women, who will tell us where to find the Nymphs.’
‘The Three Gray Women!’ cried Perseus, to whom this seemed only a new difficulty in the path of his adventure; ‘pray who may the Three Gray Women be? I never heard of them before.’
‘They are three very strange old ladies,’ said Quicksilver, laughing. ‘They have but one eye among them, and only one tooth. Moreover, you must find them out by starlight, or in the dusk of the evening; for they never show themselves by the light either of the sun or moon.’
‘But,’ said Perseus, ‘why should I waste my time with these Three Gray Women? Would it not be better to set out at once in search of the terrible Gorgons?’
‘No, no,’ answered his friend. ‘There are other things to be done, before you can find your way to the Gorgons. There is nothing for it but to hunt up these old ladies; and when we meet with them, you may be sure that the Gorgons are not a great way off. Come, let us be stirring!’
Perseus, by this time, felt so much confidence in his companion’s sagacity, that he made no more objections, and professed himself ready to begin the adventure immediately. They accordingly set out, and walked at a pretty brisk pace; so brisk, indeed, that Perseus found it rather difficult to keep up with his nimble friend Quicksilver. To say the truth, he had a singular idea that Quicksilver was furnished with a pair of winged shoes, which, of course, helped him along marvellously. And then, too, when Perseus looked sideways at him, out of the corner of his eye, he seemed to see wings on the side of his head;
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