“Perseus,” said the voice, “why are you sad?”

He lifted his head from his hands, in which he had hidden it, and, behold! all alone as Perseus had supposed himself to be, there was a stranger in the solitary place.  It was a brisk, intelligent, and remarkably shrewd-looking young man, with a cloak over his shoulders, an odd sort of cap on his head, a strangely twisted staff in his hand, and a short and very crooked sword hanging by his side.  He was exceedingly light and active in his figure, like a person much accustomed to gymnastic exercises, and well able to leap or run.  Above all, the stranger had such a cheerful, knowing, and helpful aspect (though it was certainly a little mischievous, into the bargain), that Perseus could not help feeling his spirits grow livelier as he gazed at him.  Besides, being really a courageous youth, he felt greatly ashamed that anybody should have found him with tears in his eyes, like a timid little schoolboy, when, after all, there might be no occasion for despair.  So Perseus wiped his eyes, and answered the stranger pretty briskly, putting on as brave a look as he could.

“I am not so very sad,” said he, “only thoughtful about an adventure that I have undertaken.”

“Oho!” answered the stranger.  “Well, tell me all about it, and possibly I may be of service to you.  I have helped a good many young men through adventures that looked difficult enough beforehand.  Perhaps you may have heard of me.  I have more names than one; but the name of Quicksilver suits me as well as any other.  Tell me what the trouble is, and we will talk the matter over, and see what can be done.”

The stranger’s words and manner put Perseus into quite a different mood from his former one.  He resolved to tell Quicksilver all his difficulties, since he could not easily be worse off than he already was, and, very possibly, his new friend might give him some advice that would turn out well in the end.  So he let the stranger know, in few words, precisely what the case was,—­how that King Polydectes wanted the head of Medusa with the snaky locks as a bridal gift for the beautiful Princess Hippodamia, and how that he had undertaken to get it for him, but was afraid of being turned into stone.

“And that would be a great pity,” said Quicksilver, with his mischievous smile.  “You would make a very handsome marble statue, it is true, and it would be a considerable number of centuries before you crumbled away; but, on the whole, one would rather be a young man for a few years, than a stone image for a great many.”

“Oh, far rather!” exclaimed Perseus, with the tears again standing in his eyes.  “And, besides, what would my dear mother do, if her beloved son were turned into a stone?”

“Well, well, let us hope that the affair will not turn out so very badly,” replied Quicksilver, in an encouraging tone.  “I am the very person to help you, if anybody can.  My sister and myself will do our utmost to bring you safe through the adventure, ugly as it now looks.”