1030-1046) They passed them by and cleft their way with oars over against the island of Ares all day long; for at dusk the light breeze left them.

At last they spied above them, hurtling through the air, one of the birds of Ares which haunt that isle.

It shook its wings down over the ship as she sped on and sent against her a keen feather, and it fell on the left shoulder of goodly Oileus, and he dropped his oar from his hands at the sudden blow, and his comrades marvelled at the sight of the winged bolt.

And Eribotes from his seat hard by drew out the feather, and bound up the wound when he had loosed the strap hanging from his own sword-sheath; and besides the first, another bird appeared swooping down; but the hero Clytius, son of Eurytus--for he bent his curved bow, and sped a swift arrow against the bird--struck it, and it whirled round and fell close to the ship.

And to them spake Amphidamas, son of Aleus: (ll.