HERACLES killed the snarling Orthrus with one blow from his olive-wood club, and Eurytion with another. But seeing the three spears and three shields of Geryon, our hero cast aside his club, and fitted one of his arrows tipped with Hydra-blood to his bow. So fierce was its flight that it pierced one of Geryon’s three helmets; the great head drooped like a wilting flower, and Geryon fell dead.

The homeward journey on foot (Heracles had returned his golden vessel to Helios) was eventful. Hostile natives waylaid him east of Arles, and Heracles was grateful when Zeus rained down stones for him to use as missiles; they lie there to this day.* At Reggio Calabria, a bull broke loose and was picked up by Eryx, a son of Poseidon, who wrestled Heracles for it, and lost.* Then Hera sent a gadfly, scattering the cattle all over Thrace. At last, however, Heracles delivered them safely to Eurystheus in Tyrins, who sacrificed the whole herd to Hera.