The Adventures of Ulysses Read Online Free PDF

drifting over the face of the sea, having my men killed and eaten, my ships destroyed, and my hopes shattered. I will never cease thanking you, Aeolus, till the day I die.”
    “May that sad occasion be far off,” said Aeolus politely. “Now, sir, much as I like your company, you had better gather your men and be off. I shall be uneasy now until my winds return to me and I can shut them in the mountain again.”
    Ulysses returned to the castle and called together his men. Gladly they trooped down to the ships and went aboard. Ulysses bound the great leather sack to the mast and warned his crew that no man must touch it on pain of death. Then he himself stood with naked sword under the mast, guarding the sack. “Up anchor!” he cried. The west wind rolled off the mountain and filled their sails. The black ships slipped out of the harbor. Away from the island they sailed, away from the mountain and the castle toward the wall of bronze. When they reached the wall, the great gate swung open and they sailed westward over water oily with moonlight. Westward they sailed for nine days and nine nights. In perfect weather they skimmed along, the west wind hovering behind them, keeping their sails full, pushing them steadily home.
    And for nine nights and nine days, Ulysses did not sleep; he did not close his eyes or sheath his sword. He kept his station under the mast—food and drink were brought to him there—and never for an instant stopped guarding the sack.
    Then, finally, on the morning of the ninth day, he heard the lookout cry, “Land Ho!” and strained his eyes to see. What he saw made his heart swell. Tears coursed down his face, but they were tears of joy. For he saw the dear familiar hills of home. He saw the brown fields of Ithaca, the twisted olive trees, and, as he watched, he saw them even more clearly, saw the white marble columns of his own castle on the cliff. And his men, watching, saw the smoke rising from their own chimneys.
    When Ulysses saw the white columns of his palace, he knew that unless the west wind failed, they would be home in an hour, but the friendly wind blew steadily as ever. Ulysses heaved a great sigh. The terrible tension that had kept him awake for nine days and nights eased its grip. He raised his arms and yawned. Then he leaned against the mast and closed his eyes, just for a minute.
    Two of the men, standing in the bow, saw him slump at the foot of the mast, fast asleep. Their eyes traveled up the mast to the great leather bag, plump as a balloon, straining against its bonds as the impatient winds wrestled inside. Then Poseidon, swimming invisibly alongside, clinked his golden armlets. The men heard the clinking and thought it came from the bag.
    One man said to the other: “Do you hear that? Those are coins, heavy golden coins, clinking against each other. There must be a fortune in that sack.”
    The other man said, “Yes, a fortune that should belong to all of us by rights. We shared the danger and should share the loot.”
    “It is true,” said the first, “that he has always been generous. He shared the spoils of Troy.”
    “Yes, but that was then. Why does he not divide this great sack of treasure? Aeolus gave it to him, and we know how rich he is. Aeolus gave it to him as a guest gift, and he should share it with us.”
    “He never will. Whatever is in that bag, he does not mean for us to see it. Did you not observe how he has been guarding it all these nights and all these days, standing there always, eating and drinking where he stands, never sheathing his sword?”
    “It is in his sheath now,” said the second sailor. “And his eyes are closed. Look—he sleeps like a babe. I doubt that anything would wake him.”
    “What are you doing? What are you going to do with that knife? Are you out of your mind?”
    “Yes—out of my mind with curiosity, out of my mind with gold fever, if you must know. Ulysses lies asleep. His sword sleeps in its sheath. And I mean to see