Hercules obediently set out to find the mysterious place, for he was eager to perform great feats. He searched, he questioned and he enquired, but to no avail. Finally, Nereus, the sea god, told him what he wanted to know: The Garden of the Hesperides lay in an enchanted place beyond the edge of the world, where the Titan Atlas supported the vault of Heaven on his powerful shoulders.

The demigod set off immediately. He journeyed through unknown places full of danger, confronting monstrous and blood thristy creatures, and at last arrived at the place where Atlas held up the sky on his shoulders. Nearby lay the beautiful garden surrounded by fragrant honeysuckle and rambling roses. The air echoed with the bubbling laughter of the beautiful nymphs who were playing with the dragon, chasing each other through the trees.

The son of Zeus, dressed only in a lion's pelt and wielding an enourmous club, was afraid that the Hesperides would be frightened of his appearance and his powerful weapon and did not dare enter. He went over to the giant and said: 'Powerful Atlas, you know the nymphs. Couldn't you go into the garden and pick the apples? They won't be afraid of you. Meanwhile I'll hold up the sky for you'. Atlas gladly agreed and hasily placed the celestial vault on to the shoulders of the demigod. Then, with a happy smile and a wave, he entered the garden.

From where he was standing, Hercules could hear the shrieks of surprise and joy of the young women at the sight of the titan, and the deeper voic e of the dragon, welcoming him. For three days he heard nothing more of Atlas than the ringing of laughter and games in the divine garden. On the third day, Atlas appeared with the apples, which he placed at the hero's feet. 'Hercules my friend,' he said, 'I have spoken with the dragon, who is very intelligent, and he told me that the Hesperides are furious at losing the apples, and besides, I'm tired of holding up the sky without ever being able to have any fun. I tell you, I had a lovely time with the dragon and the nymphs,' he added with a wink. 'I'm leaving you here, my friend, to hold up the sky, and I'm going to go and live in the divine garden. But to show you that I have kept my word, I have brought you the apples. Don't hold it against me.'

'That is good, I understand,' Hercules assured him, 'if I were you I would do exactly the same. Let me ask you just one favor.' 'Ask me whatever you like.' 'You may be able to hold up the celestial vault without effort, but I am not so accustomed to it and it's slipping. I'd like to put a rope cushion on my head to stop it from falling.' 'That seems fair to me,' replied the giant, 'I will hod it for you while you put the cushion on your head.' And the guileless giant the sky so that Hercules could arrange the protective cushion on his head. The demigod, who was waiting for just that, ducked out of the way as fast as he could, picked up the apples and fled.

'Dragon, dragon, he's escaping!' shouted the furious Atlas but the dragon poked his head out of the garden gate and replied: 'You are so stupid that you deserve your fate. I warned you not to trust the hero. Now nobody can take your place.' And, as the Hesperides were calling him to play hide and seek, he went back into the garden leaving poor Atlas alone and bored with his burden.