victory upon his head. Heracles, meanwhile, lopped off the
branches of the pine tree and began to fashion it into an oar.

The fires were lighted upon the shore, and the thoughts of all
were turned to supper. Then young Hylas, who used to sit by
Heracles and keep bright the hero's arms and armor, took a bronze
vessel and went to fetch water.

Never was there a boy so beautiful as young Hylas. He had golden
curls that tumbled over his brow. He had deep blue eyes and a
face that smiled at every glance that was given him, at every
word that was said to him. Now as he walked through the flowering
grasses, with his knees bare, and with the bright vessel swinging
in his hand, he looked most lovely. Heracles had brought the boy
with him from the country of the Dryopians; he would have him sit
beside him on the bench of the Argo, and the ill humors that
often came upon him would go at the words and the smile of Hylas.

Now the spring that Hylas was going toward was called Pegae, and
it was haunted by the nymphs. They were dancing around it when
they heard Hylas singing. They stole softly off to watch him.
Hidden behind trees the nymphs saw the boy come near, and they
felt such love for him that they thought they could never let him
go from their sight.

They stole back to their spring, and they sank down below its
clear surface. Then came Hylas singing a song that he had heard
from his mother. He bent down to the spring, and the brimming
water flowed into the sounding bronze of the pitcher. Then hands
came out of the water. One of the nymphs caught Hylas by the