yellow fairy tale book

Chapter 50 Travels to Lilliputian Country (1)

1.

My father owned a small piece of land in Nottinghamshire, and I was the third of four sons of his. When I was 14, he sent me to Cambridge University.I studied there three years, and then apprenticed to Mr. Bates, a well-known surgeon in London.From time to time my father sent me a little money, which I used to study navigation and other subjects useful to travellers, because I always believed that some day I too would have the opportunity to travel.Three years later, my mentor, Mr. Bates, recommended me to be a surgeon on the "Swallow" steamer, and I worked on this ship for three years.After returning, I settled down in London.I bought a little house with Edmund the knitter?Mr. Burton's daughter, Miss Mary Burton, was married.But two years after, my good master Bates died, and my business, as I had few friends, was failing, so I resolved to go to sea again.After several sea trips, I accepted the captain of the "Antelope"——William?Pritchard was hired by Captain Pritchard, who was sailing around the South Pacific. On the 1699th of May, 5, we set sail from Bristol.

At first we sailed very well, but on our way to the East Indies a severe storm drove us to the northwest of Vatican Island.Twelve of the crew died from overwork and poor diet, and those who survived were extremely weak. On the 12th of November, where the fog was thick, the sailors found a rock about 11 yards from the ship, but the wind was so strong that our boat was driven straight on to the rock, and immediately split into pieces.Six of the crew, myself included, lowered the lifeboat into the sea and disengaged from the ship, and we rowed only nine miles before our strength was exhausted and we were left to the mercy of the waves.After about half an hour, a sudden gust of wind capsized the boat.What became of the companions in the boat, and those who escaped to the rocks or remained in the ship, I have no way of knowing, but I judge they were all lost.

As for myself, I drifted resignedly, pushed forward by the wind and waves.When I had the strength to thump a few times, I found that the sea water had reached the top of my head, and the wind had also weakened greatly.At eight o'clock in the evening, I finally docked.I walked about half a mile toward the island, but found no sign of inhabitation.With extreme exhaustion and the heat, I felt like falling asleep.I lay down on the grass, which was short and soft.I slept soundly for about nine hours, and when I awoke it was just dawn.

I tried to stand up, but couldn't move.As I happened to be lying on my back, I found that my arms and legs were bound firmly to the ground, and my hair, which was long and thick, was also bound, so I could only look upwards.The weather is getting hotter and the sun is hurting my eyes.I heard a commotion all around me, but I could see nothing but the sky.In a little time I felt something alive moving on my left leg, which advanced gently forward over my breast, almost up to my chin.when I looked down, I beheld a human being not six inches high, with a bow and arrow, and a quiver at his back.At the same time, I found at least forty of his kind coming after him.I was so taken aback that I gave such a roar that they all turned and ran in a fright, and several of them were hurt when they jumped from my waist.But they came back soon, and one of them ventured to a place where he could see my whole face, and raised his hands to me adoringly.

I lay there in such great discomfort that at last, with great effort, I succeeded in freeing the ropes which bound my left arm to the ground.At the same time, I gave a tug, which was excruciatingly painful, but loosened the rope binding my hair a little so that I could turn my head a little like two inches.However, before I could catch them, they ran away again.I heard them screaming, and the next moment I felt more than 100 needle-like arrows hit my left hand.This was not enough, they shot into the air for a while, and some landed on my face, and I quickly covered my face with my left hand.After the rain of arrows, I moaned in pain.Once again I struggled to get free, and they shot arrows at me harder than before, and a few tried to stab me with spears, but luckily I was wearing a leather jacket and they couldn't get in.At this time, I thought the safest way was to lie down quietly until night, because my left hand had been untied and I could easily regain my freedom.As for the inhabitants, I think they're all about the size of the guy I saw, and even if they fought me with the strongest army, I'd be no match for them.

When these men found that I had quieted down, they stopped shooting arrows, but judging from the noise I heard, I knew that their numbers had increased again.At a distance of about four yards from me they went on for more than an hour, banging away, as if engaged in some work.Turning my head in that direction, as far as the pegs and ropes would allow, I saw a platform a foot and a half high rising from the ground, with two or three sets of ladders by which to climb it.One of them, who looked like a gentleman, stood on the stage and gave me a long speech, but I couldn't understand a word, although I could see from his posture that sometimes he was threatening. I, and sometimes his tone showed pity and kindness, and I responded to him with the most submissive tone.

At this time, I was already hungry and couldn't help showing impatience.From time to time I put my finger over my mouth to show that I want to eat.He clearly understood what I meant, so he came down from the platform, ordered several sets of ladders to be placed on both sides of me, and then a hundred or so residents brought to my mouth baskets full of food, which were all Immediately after the king received the information about me, he ordered it to be sent.The food includes leg and shoulder meat similar to lamb, but smaller than a lark's wing. I can eat two or three pieces in one bite, and I also gobble up bread three in one bite.They were astonished at my appetite as they served me as quickly as possible.Then I said I wanted to drink water. They estimated that a little water would not be enough for me to drink.Cleverly they hoisted one of the largest buckets, rolled it to my hand, and pried off the lid.I drank the bucket down--which was too easy for me, as the bucket held no more than half a pint.Then they got me another bucket and let me drink it up. I said I wanted to drink it, but they had no water for me to drink.But I couldn't ask for anything more from these bold little fellows, who ventured to climb up and down on me with one hand free, and didn't do it because of the sight of me being so huge. And trembling with fear.

After some time, a high official from the king came.This lord, with about a dozen entourages, climbed up from my right calf, came to my face, and spoke for about 10 minutes, pointing forward from time to time.I realized afterwards that he meant the capital half a mile away, for there the king had ordered me to be transported there.I made a gesture with my unbound left hand—put it on top of my right (passing over the lord's head so as not to hurt him and his entourage), and signaled to them that I wanted to be free.He seemed to understand me because he shook his head in disapproval and then raised his hand in a gesture to let me know that you can live well and be well treated there .In this way, I tried to break free again, but I felt the arrow wounds on my face and hands were still hurting, and some pustules had already formed, and I saw that the number of enemies was still increasing.I had no choice but to make gestures to let them understand that they can deal with me as they like.Then they put a very fragrant ointment on my face and hands, and in a few minutes all the arrow wounds were gone.Hunger and pain are gone, and I am lethargic.I was later told that I slept about eight hours.This was not surprising, for the doctors, by order of the King, had mixed a sleeping potion with the water I drank beforehand.

It appears that when I was found lying on the ground when I was ashore, the king was reported, and he resolved to bind me up in the manner described above (which was done at night while I was asleep), and to send I have enough wine and meat, and prepare a machine to transport me to the capital.Five hundred carpenters and engineers immediately set to work building the machine.It was a wooden frame, three feet high, about seven feet long, and four feet wide, on twenty-two wheels.However, the difficulty lies in how to lift me up and put me on the machine.For this purpose they erected eighty posts, after which the workmen attached very strong ropes to the bandages which bound my neck, hands, body and legs, and the other ends of the ropes passed through pulleys fixed to the posts.Nine hundred of the strongest men pulled the rope together, and it took less than three hours to hoist me up and put me on the cart, where I was still tightly bound.Fifteen hundred of the tallest royal horses, each about four and a half inches high, dragged me toward the capital.However, when they had it all sorted out, I slept soundly, and did not wake up for four hours after departure.

When we arrived in the capital, the king and ministers all came out to meet us, but the ministers did not want His Majesty the king to risk climbing onto my body.The horse team stopped in front of an ancient temple, which is estimated to be the largest temple in the entire kingdom, and the king decided to temporarily place me here.At the gate—for I could easily climb out there—they fastened 91 chains like those on a lady's watch, and the other end of the chain was fastened to my left leg, and then 36 Put the lock on the chain.The workers found that it was impossible for me to break free, so they cut all the ropes that bound me.I stood up, feeling more depressed than ever, but those who saw me stood up and walked were so surprised and stunned that there are no words to describe the scene.

The chains which bound my left foot were about two yards long, and they gave me freedom of movement in two semicircles, front and rear, and also enabled me to climb into the temple, and lie in it all.The extremely luxuriously dressed king came to me from among the ministers and looked at me with admiration, but he still kept a distance from me.He was taller than the other ministers, about the length of my fingernail, and this alone was enough to impress anyone who saw him.In addition, his appearance is elegant and mighty.To see him more easily, I lay on my side, facing his face, and he stood only three yards away from me.I've also held him in my hands a few times, though, so I can see him for real.His attire was very simple, but on his head he wore a light, jewel-studded gold helmet with a feather in it.He has a sword in his hand, which he can use to defend himself if I break free.It was about three inches long, and had a gold hilt studded with diamonds.His voice was high-pitched, but his articulation was clear.I can hear clearly even when I stand up.Now and then the king spoke to me, and I answered him, but neither could understand a word.

(End of this chapter)