Instead of setting out , however , he summoned the whole crew together , and told them it was in vain to hope that he could kill a stag every day for their dinner , and therefore it was advisable to think of some other mode of satisfying their hunger . `` Now , '' said he , `` when I was on the cliff , yesterday , I discovered that this island is inhabited . At a considerable distance from the shore stood a marble palace , which appeared to be very spacious , and had a great deal of smoke curling out of one of its chimneys . '' `` Aha ! '' muttered some of his companions , smacking their lips . `` That smoke must have come from the kitchen fire . There was a good dinner on the spit ; and no doubt there will be as good a one to-day . '' `` But , '' continued the wise Ulysses , `` you must remember , my good friends , our misadventure in the cavern of one-eyed Polyphemus , the Cyclops ! Instead of his ordinary milk diet , did he not eat up two of our comrades for his supper , and a couple more for breakfast , and two at his supper again ? Methinks I see him yet , the hideous monster , scanning us with that great red eye , in the middle of his forehead , to single out the fattest . And then , again , only a few days ago , did we not fall into the hands of the king of the Laestrygons , and those other horrible giants , his subjects , who devoured a great many more of us than are now left ? To tell you the truth , if we go to yonder palace , there can be no question that we shall make our appearance at the dinner table ; but whether seated as guests , or served up as food , is a point to be seriously considered . '' `` Either way , '' murmured some of the hungriest of the crew ; `` it will be better than starvation ; particularly if one could be sure of being well fattened beforehand , and daintily cooked afterwards . '' `` That is a matter of taste , '' said King Ulysses , `` and , for my own part , neither the most careful fattening nor the daintiest of cookery would reconcile me to being dished at last . My proposal is , therefore , that we divide ourselves into two equal parties , and ascertain , by drawing lots , which of the two shall go to the palace , and beg for food and assistance . If these can be obtained , all is well . If not , and if the inhabitants prove as inhospitable as Polyphemus , or the Laestrygons , then there will but half of us perish , and the remainder may set sail and escape . '' As nobody objected to this scheme , Ulysses proceeded to count the whole band , and found that there were forty-six men , including himself . He then numbered off twenty-two of them , and put Eurylochus -LRB- who was one of his chief officers , and second only to himself in sagacity -RRB- at their head . Ulysses took command of the remaining twenty-two men , in person .
Then , taking off his helmet , he put two shells into it , on one of which was written , `` Go , '' and XXXXX the other `` Stay . ''
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