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which I began with telling you about。 But he had encountered so many
dangers from giants； and one…eyed Cyclops； and monsters of the sea and
land； that he could not help dreading some mischief； even in this pleasant
and seemingly solitary spot。 For two days； therefore； the poor weather…
worn voyagers kept quiet； and either staid on board of their vessel； or
merely crept along under the cliffs that bordered the shore； and to keep
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themselves alive； they dug shellfish out of the sand； and sought for any
little rill of fresh water that might be running towards the sea。
Before the two days were spent； they grew very weary of this kind of
life； for the followers of King Ulysses； as you will find it important to
remember； were terrible gormandizers； and pretty sure to grumble if they
missed their regulars meals； and their irregular ones besides。 Their stock
of provisions was quite exhausted； and even the shellfish began to get
scarce； so that they had now to choose between starving to death or
venturing into the interior of the island； where perhaps some huge three…
headed dragon； or other horrible monster； had his den。 Such misshapen
creatures were very numerous in those days； and nobody ever expected to
make a voyage； or take a journey； without running more or less risk of
being devoured by them。
But King Ulysses was a bold man as well as a prudent one； and on the
third morning he determined to discover what sort of a place the island
was； and whether it were possible to obtain a supply of food for the
hungry mouths of his companions。 So； taking a spear in his hand； he
clambered to the summit of a cliff； and gazed round about him。 At a
distance； towards the center of the island； he beheld the stately towers of
what seemed to be a palace； built of snow…white marble； and rising in the
midst of a grove of lofty trees。 The thick branches of these trees stretched
across the front of the edifice； and more than half concealed it； although；
from the portion which he saw； Ulysses judged it to be spacious and
exceedingly beautiful； and probably the residence of some great nobleman
or prince。 A blue smoke went curling up from the chimney； and was
almost the pleasantest part of the spectacle to Ulysses。 For； from the
abundance of this smoke； it was reasonable to conclude that there was a
good fire in the kitchen； and that； at dinner…time； a plentiful banquet would
be served up to the inhabitants of the palace； and to whatever guests might
happen to drop in。
With so agreeable a prospect before him； Ulysses fancied that he could
not do better than go straight to the palace gate； and tell the master of it
that there was a crew of poor shipwrecked mariners； not far off； who had
eaten nothing for a day or two； save a few clams and oysters； and would
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therefore be thankful for a little food。 And the prince or nobleman must be
a very stingy curmudgeon； to be sure； if； at least； when his own dinner was
over； he would not bid them welcome to the broken victuals from the
table。
Pleasing himself with this idea； King Ulysses had made a few steps in
the direction of the palace； when there was a great twittering and chirping
from the branch of a neighboring tree。 A moment afterwards； a bird came
flying towards him； and hovered in the air； so as almost to brush his face
with its wings。 It was a very pretty little bird； with purple wings and body；
and yellow legs； and a circle of golden feathers round its neck； and on its
head a golden tuft； which looked like a king's crown in miniature。 Ulysses
tried to catch the bird。 But it fluttered nimbly out of his reach； still
chirping in a piteous tone； as if it could have told a lamentable story； had it
only been gifted with human language。 And when he attempted to drive it
away； the bird flew no farther than the bough of the next tree； and again
came fluttering about his head； with its doleful chirp； as soon as he
showed a purpose of going forward。
〃Have you anything to tell me； little bird？〃 asked Ulysses。
And he was ready to listen attentively to whatever the bird might
communicate； for； at the siege of Troy； and elsewhere； he had known such
odd things to happen； that he would not have considered it much out of the
common run had this little feathered creature talked as plainly as himself。
〃Peep！〃 said the bird； 〃peep； peep； peweep！〃 And nothing else would
it say； but only； 〃Peep； peep； peweep！〃 in a melancholy cadence； and
over and over and over again。 As often as Ulysses moved forward；
however； the bird showed the greatest alarm； and did its best to drive him
back； with the anxious flutter of its purple wings。 Its unaccountable
behavior made him conclude； at last； that the bird knew of some danger
that awaited him； and which must needs be very terrible； beyond all
question； since it moved even a little fowl to feel compassion for a human
being。 So he resolved； for the present； to return to the vessel； and tell his
companions what he had seen。
This appeared to satisfy the bird。 As soon as Ulysses turned back； it
ran up the trunk of a tree； and began to pick insects out of the bark with its
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long； sharp bill； for it was a kind of woodpecker； you must know； and had
to get its living in the same manner as other birds of that species。 But
every little while； as it pecked at the bark of the tree； the purple bird
bethought itself of some secret sorrow； and repeated its plaintive note of
〃Peep； peep； peweep！〃
On his way to the shore； Ulysses had the good luck to kill a large stag
by thrusting his spear into his back。 Taking it on his shoulders （for he was
a remarkably strong man）； he lugged it along with him； and flung it down
before his hungry companions。 I have already hinted to you what
gormandizers some of the comrades of King Ulysses were。 From what is
related of them； I reckon that