💡 This is a chapter from The Wanderings of Odysseus, by C. Witt & F. Younghusband ← Go there to read the full book free online; it is also available in paperback and Kindle editions.
Almost immediately after this, they saw in the distance the terrible Wandering Rocks, which stirred up the whole sea by rushing so violently from place to place that the danger could not have been greater in the most severe storm. When they perceived this, the hearts of the rowers sank, and their limbs became paralyzed with fright.
They made no effort to escape, but let their oars hang idly in the water whilst the ship was being driven nearer and nearer to the fatal rocks. Odysseus, however, knew that their only hope lay in active exertion, and, going from one to another of the rowers, he bade them be of good courage, and said, “The danger is not greater now than it was when we were in the cave of the Cyclops, but even then did I not find a means of rescuing you? Follow now, therefore, my advice. Pluck up heart again, and by your vigorous rowing withdraw the ship from the dangerous current. And thou, helmsman, steer the ship away from the smoke and noise and direct its course towards yonder rock.”
It was the rock of Scylla, but Odysseus told his companions nothing of the monster who lurked there, and they were so accustomed to find safety in following the advice of their leader that they were now obedient to his injunctions and rowed with all their might towards it. Odysseus remembered well what Circe had told him of the ghastly toll taken by the monster of every ship that passed her, but he still cherished some hope of being able nevertheless to save his friends, and he seized his weapons in readiness to attack her.
They were soon in the narrow space between Scylla and Charybdis — the two rocks lying only about an arrowshot apart. Charybdis was just then occupied in sucking in the sea; the companions of Odysseus turned pale at the tremendous spectacle, and he himself could not take away his eyes from it. But suddenly he heard a cry for help and, looking around, perceived that they were at that moment passing the rock of Scylla and that the monster had already seized six of his men. He could see them still struggling with their arms and feet, and could hear their cries — but it was only for the moment, for almost immediately the monster disappeared with them into her cavern. It was the most ghastly sight that Odysseus had ever seen. But all that he could do now was to try and save the rest; and when Scylla had hurriedly devoured her horrible meal and again stretched herself out to see what more she could seize, the ship was already far beyond her reach.