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 , pe -- weep ! '' 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 -LRB- for he was a remarkably strong man -RRB- , 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 their favorite diet was pork , and that they had lived upon it until a good part of their physical substance was swine 's flesh , and their tempers and dispositions were very much akin to the hog . A dish of venison , however , was no unacceptable meal to them , especially after feeding so long on oysters and clams . So , beholding the dead stag , they felt of its ribs , in a knowing way , and lost no time in kindling a fire of driftwood , to cook it . The rest of the day was spent in feasting ; and if these enormous eaters got up from table at sunset , it was only because they could not scrape another morsel off the poor animal 's bones . The next morning , their appetites were as sharp as ever . They looked at Ulysses , as if they expected him to clamber up the cliff again , and come back with another fat deer upon his shoulders . 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 XXXXX us than are now left ?
On after at from if into of that to until