Page 101 - English_Spark_5

Often he camped for a few days in a lonely place among the mountains and

then changed his location in fear of being caught. King Bruce was very unhappy.

He wanted to save his land and serve its people, but no hope seemed in sight.

One rainy day, Bruce lay on the ground in a makeshift shed of hay and sticks.

He listened to the patter of the drops on the roof above him. He was tired and

sick at heart. ‘‘It seems there is no use anymore. I can never win over the King
of England.’’ Bruce was beginning to give up.

Bruce spotted a spider. Having nothing to do, he began to while away his time

watching it closely. The spider slowly climbed a wall and began to weave a web.

It threw its frail silk thread six times from one pole to the other pole, but each
time the thread fell short and it was unsuccessful.

‘‘Poor thing!’’ said Bruce, ‘‘This spider too knows what it is to fail.’’

Then Bruce noticed a strange thing. He saw that the spider had not lost hope
despite failing six times. It was ready to try again. With still more care, it threw

the thread, the seventh time. Bruce grew excited and sat up. ‘‘Will it succeed

this time?’’ he thought. He forgot his own troubles and began to watch the

spider swing itself upon the slender thread. The thread sagged as the spider
swung itself on it but held on.

Slowly and steadily, Bruce then saw the spider weave a web.

‘‘I, too, will try a seventh time!’’ cried Bruce and got up. Filled with hope and

energy, he called his men together. He made a plan and sent them to his soldiers
and people to cheer them. Soon, many brave Scotchmen gathered near the

shed. They were ready to try a seventh time.

Another battle was fought between Scotland and England, and the King of
England faced defeat this time. He returned to his own country.

makeshift — temporary; patter — a repeated tapping sound; spotted — saw; frail —
weak, slender; strange — peculiar; swing — move back and forth gradually; sagged —

sank downwards gradually under weight or pressure; held on — persevered.

English-5 101