Heracles went aboard the Argo once more, and he took his place on
the bench, the new oar in his hand. Sad he was to think that
young Hylas who used to sit at his knee would never be there
again. The breeze filled the sail, the Argonauts pulled at the
oars, and in sadness they watched the island where young Hylas
had been lost to them recede from their view.



VII. KING PHINEUS

Said Tiphys, the steersman: "If we could enter the Sea of Pontus,
we could make our way across that sea to Colchis in a short time.
But the passage into the Sea of Pontus is most perilous, and few
mortals dare even to make approach to it."

Said Jason, the chieftain of the host: "The dangers of the
passage, Tiphys, we have spoken of, and it may be that we shall
have to carry Argo overland to the Sea of Pontus. But You,
Tiphys, have spoken of a wise king who is hereabouts, and who
might help us to make the dangerous passage. Speak again to us,
and tell us what the dangers of the passage are, and who the king
is who may be able to help us to make these dangers less."

Then said Tiphys, the steersman of the Argo: "No ship sailed by
mortals has as yet gone through the passage that brings this sea
into the Sea of Pontus. In the way are the rocks that mariners
call The Clashers. These rocks are not fixed as rocks should be,
but they rush one against the other, dashing up the sea, and