“Thus we were again imprisoned for the whole day. I now conceived a plan to avenge our lost comrades and to free ourselves—I would put out his great eye with a red-hot stake! I found just the piece for the purpose. It was the giant’s own club of green olivewood, as long and as thick as a mast. I hewed off a piece from the end, my companions helped to smooth it, and I sharpened the point and hardened it in the glowing coals. When my weapon was ready I carefully concealed it under the pile of straw on the ground. Hereupon we drew lots to find out which of my companions should help me thrust the stake into the eye of the sleeping giant, and we fearfully awaited his return. At last he came, driving in his flocks, and this time he left none of the animals outside, either because he was suspicious of us or because a god had so decreed. He set up the great stone, milked his sheep and goats, ate two more of my poor companions, and put fresh wood on the fire. I now brought out the wine skin and went boldly up to him. “‘See, Cyclops,’ said I, filling a jug; ‘here is something to drink; try it. Wine tastes good after human flesh. Take it that thou mayest see what good drink we had upon our lost vessel.’ He took the jug and drank. How delighted he was! He emptied the vessel and said, smiling: ‘Fill again from thy wine skin and tell me thy name, that I may make thee a gift. What a delicious draught! We have wine here, but compared with thine it is but water. Do but give me more.’ “I filled his jug three times and he gulped it down eagerly. I soon saw with delight that his senses were becoming clouded. Then an excellent idea occurred to me. ‘Thou wouldst know my name,’ said I. ‘My name is Nobody. My father and mother call me Nobody and so do all people.’ “‘Good,’ said he. ‘Then Nobody shall be the last one I shall devour. Take that as thy guest gift from me.’ “With these words he fell upon his back overpowered by sleep. He tossed about until deep snores showed that he had at last lost consciousness. Our time had come! I quickly drew forth the stake, plunged the end into the fire, turned it about until it was glowing, and then called upon my companions to assist me. A god put courage into our hearts. We all took hold and in an instant had plunged the fiery pole into the sleeper’s great eye. As when a smith dips glowing iron into cold water, thus hissed the Cyclops’ eye as the torch penetrated it. But we pushed it in the deeper and turned it round and round until the blood gushed out and flowed over forehead and cheeks. With a horrible roar the giant jumped up and we all fled into the corners of the cave. Bewildered by the pain, he pulled the glowing brand from his eye and threw it against the rocky wall, raving like a crazy man. The other Cyclops were aroused by his desperate cries and gathered about the cave. “‘What has happened to thee, Polyphemus,’ they cried, ‘to make thee roar thus? Has someone stolen thy cattle or a murderer attacked thee?’