So they went forth and set Apollo's gift on the shore; then before them stood, in the form of a youth, far-swaying Triton, and he lifted a clod from the earth and offered it as a stranger's gift, and thus spake: "Take it, friends, for no stranger's gift of great worth have I here by me now to place in the hands of those who beseech me.

But if ye are searching for a passage through this sea, as often is the need of men passing through a strange land, I will declare it.

For my sire Poseidon has made me to be well versed in this sea.

And I rule the shore--if haply in your distant land you have ever heard of Eurypylus, born in Libya, the home of wild beasts." Thus he spake, and readily Euphemus held out his hands towards the clod, and thus addressed him in reply: "If haply, hero, thou knowest aught of Apis[1] and the sea of Minos, tell us truly, who ask it of you.

For not of our will have we come hither, but by the stress of heavy storms have we touched the borders of this land, and have borne our ship aloft on our shoulders to the waters of this lake over the mainland, grievously burdened; and we know not where a passage shows itself for our course to the land of Pelops." [Footnote 1: An old name of the Peloponnesus.] So he spake; and Triton stretched out his hand and showed afar the sea and the lake's deep mouth, and then addressed them: "That is the outlet to the sea, where the deep water lies unmoved and dark; on each side roll white breakers with shining crests; and the way between for your passage out is narrow.