Fortunately for them, Minerva's shield happened to be lying on the ground close by, and Joe, with great presence of mind, recalling his classics for the occasion, took it up and presented it at the giant. Naturally, he turned to stone on the spot; and as at that particular moment he had one foot off the ground, his club above his head, and his mouth wide open, the effect was striking. They amused themselves for a short time playing Aunt Sally at him; and then, getting rather tired of the whole affair, looked about them for some way of escaping. They met Cupid, the boy that belonged to Venus, prowling about with his bow and arrow. "Hullo, kid!" said Magnus. "Here you are--three shots a penny, and twopence if you hit me at twenty yards!" Cupid aimed and missed, and then very foolishly began to cry. "What are you blubbering at?" asked Joe. "You young soft!" Cupid said he was miserable. Everybody up there bullied him, and he couldn't hit anything nowadays with his bow and arrows. "Jack it up then, and come to our school," said Magnus, slapping him on the back. "Lots of larks there. You can wear Etons and a topper, and chum in our study--can't he, Joe?" "Yes, if he likes to do his share of the fagging," said Joe. "I don't much mind what I do, as long as I get away from this lot." "All serene; come down with us. We're hanging out at Llandudno for the holidays. My mater will take you in, I'm certain." "Ah, yes, and by the way," said Joe, once more making a brilliant dive into his classics, "there's a friend of yours, you know, called what's- her-name, only a few doors off. Isn't there, Magnus?" "Rather!" said Magnus, who had not a notion what was being referred to. "You don't mean to say Psyche--" "That's her--the very article; rather a wonner, too. Magnus is spoons on her, you know," added Joe, with a wink at his friend; "but he'll back out for you." "Oh," said Magnus, blushing, "it don't matter to me. Besides, she's going to-morrow." This settled matters. "Let's cut," said Cupid, impatiently, "or we shall be too late." A great row was going on among the gods. Goodness knows what it was about--nobody ever did know that! Venus and Juno were scratching one another's faces; Jupiter was shaking his fist and thundering all round; the other men were arguing in high Greek, and the other ladies were screaming at the top of their voices. "They're at it again," said Cupid, making a wry face. "That sort of thing goes on here from morning to night. We shan't be missed. Come on, you fellows!" Down they went at a great pace, Cupid (who was much less encumbered with clothes than the other two) showing a lead. Presently they lost sight of the top, and through the clouds below caught a distant glimpse of the black lake. "Can't we take a short cut down there?" asked Joe.