Perseus betook himself to the shore and awaited the appearance of the monster. It soon emerged from the water and made for the rocks to devour the maiden. Perseus attacked and killed it after a hard fight. The waves of the sea at once receded and the country was freed from the pest. The king gave the victor his daughter for wife and a great festival was held in his honor. After some time had elapsed, Perseus bethought himself of the promise he had made King Polydectes to bring him the Gorgon’s head, and therefore made his way with his wife to the island of Seriphus, where Polydectes ruled in common with his brother. How astonished Polydectes was when he saw the hero returning whose death he had wished! Perseus held the head of Medusa before the king. The sight of it turned him to stone instantly. When Polydectes had thus been punished, Perseus gave the Medusa’s head to Athene, who fastened it in the middle of her breastplate. The shield, cloak, and shoes he gave to Hermes, who returned them to the nymphs. Perseus now went back to Argos, his homeland. When Acrisius heard he was approaching the castle, he fled to the Pelasgians. Perseus followed him and found him there. He implored him to return with him to Argos and promised that he would do him no harm. This reassured Acrisius and he agreed to follow him. On the day fixed for their departure a contest was arranged by the Pelasgians in which Perseus took part. He engaged in disk throwing and Perseus struck his grandfather upon the foot with the disk, which led to his illness and death. Thus the prophecy was fulfilled. Perseus lived long and happily with his wife Andromeda, who bore him six sons and two daughters. Chapter XII Cadmus Agenor, hearing of the extraordinary abduction of Europa,[19] called his son Cadmus to him and ordered him to bring back the maiden or never again enter his house. Cadmus wandered over the earth for a long time, but could nowhere find his sister. As he did not dare to venture home without her, he consulted the oracle and asked where she might dwell. The oracle replied: “In a lonely field you will find a young steer which has never worn a yoke. Follow it, and where it lies down in the soft grass to rest, there build a city. It shall be called Thebes, and the country round about, Bœotia.” Cadmus left the cave in which he had heard the voice of the deity and soon found the steer which had never worn a yoke. He followed it with his companions, humbly supplicating Apollo. The steer led him afar, but at last stopped, turned its head towards him and his companions, and loudly lowed. Then it laid down in the soft grass. Cadmus knelt down, kissed the soil, and greeted the surrounding fields, mountains, and forests. Then turning to his companions he said: “Arise, and bring water that we may make an offering to Zeus, the all-powerful.”