He saw tiny wings on his cap. They were on his feet, too. Perseus knew he was Mercury, the gods' messenger. "Tell me why you are worried, Perseus," Mercury said again.

It did not take Mercury and Perseus long to find the Nymphs. They gave Perseus the three gifts. One gift was a magic leather purse. Another was a pair of shoes with wings on them. The last gift was a strange cap. When Perseus wore the cap, no one could see him. Wearing the shoes, he could fly.

The sisters wanted their eye badly enough to tell Perseus anything. Quickly they told him what he wanted to know. He gave back their eye. "Tell me who the Nymphs are," said Perseus to Mercury after they left the gray sisters.

The sisters wanted their eye badly enough to tell Perseus anything. Quickly they told him what he wanted to know. He gave back their eye. "Tell me who the Nymphs are," said Perseus to Mercury after they left the gray sisters. "The

"Perseus," he said. "You grew up in my country. My people have been kind to you. Would you like to do something for us?" Perseus said just what the king wanted him to say.

The worst thing about them was this: anyone who looked at Gorgon's face turned to stone. No wonder the king thought he would never see Perseus again!

Early the next morning, Perseus started on his dangerous adventure. While he was walking, he began to think.

Perseus flew down. He struck hard at Medusa with his sword. Off came the terrible head! "Put it in your purse," called Mercury. To Perseus' surprise, the small purse grew large enough to hold Medusa's head. The other Gorgons awoke.

For days he thought of ways to get rid of Perseus. He felt sure she would marry him if the boy were gone. At last he thought of a wicked plan. He sent for Perseus.

Perseus did not stop to think. He wanted to do something for the king. He wanted to show he was brave. "I can do it!" he cried. "I'll kill the Gorgon! I'll bring back her head! If I don't, you will never see me again."

Suddenly it came to him. The king had tricked him! "How foolish I am," he said. "I can't kill a Gorgon. The Gorgons will kill me. Why did I make such a promise?" Then he heard a voice behind him saying, "Perseus, why are you worried?" He turned around. There stood a man wearing a cape and a strange cap. Perseus looked at him closely.

"I have come back from the Gorgons' cave. I killed Medusa." "How do I know you are telling the truth?" asked the king. "You said you would bring back the head. Show it to me." "All right!" said Perseus. He held the head before the king's eyes. The king turned to stone. Perseus put the head back in his purse.

Perseus was one of the bravest Greek heroes. When he was just a little boy, his father died. His father was a king. So it was right that Perseus should be the next king. There were some bad men who did not want this.

By this time it was growing dark. Mercury and Perseus had been walking as they talked. "Here we are," whispered Mercury. "This is the cave where the sisters live." "What must I do," asked Perseus, "now we've found them?"

For many years they lived happily together. One day when Perseus' mother was in the garden the king rode by. He stopped to talk with her. .fAfter that, he stopped to see her many times. Once he ordered her to come to the palace.

For many years they lived happily together. One day when Perseus' mother was in the garden the king rode by. He stopped to talk with her. After that, he stopped to see her many times. Once he ordered her to come to the palace.