"There are no Gods, I tell ye.
"Were there Gods, I must have slain them all.
"And I will slay, as my deadly enemy, whosoever declares that he still believes in Gods."
Furiously he brandished the firebrand in his left hand, the hammer in his right, and cried to the trembling sailors--
"Choose--If ye believe that there are Gods, then I will strike ye down like this too forward comrade.
"But if ye renounce the Gods, then may ye live, and depart, and bear witness everywhere that there are no Gods.
"Are there Gods?" shouted the maniac, drawing near to the trembling men.
"No, my lord; there are no Gods," cried the men, and fell upon their knees.
"Then go--and leave me alone to my own will."
Quickly the seamen descended into the larger boat on the left.