Armed with his trusty sword, he finally went down to the spring to discover the cause of their delay, and found that they had all been devoured by a huge dragon, which lived in the hollow. […] The irate husband lost no time, but, seizing a net of linked steel, went in search of his runaway wife. […] No one suspected their meetings; and all went well until the first fierce storms of winter swept down over the Hellespont. […] The wind blew so fiercely that the torch wavered and flickered, and nearly went out, although Hero protected its feeble flame by standing over it with outstretched robes. […] Among these ingenious contrivances were two golden handmaidens gifted with motion, who attended the god wherever he went, and supported his halting footsteps.