Page 45 - English_Spark_5

But they returned soon. One of them came very close and called out in a high,

clear voice but I could not understand his language.

Lying there made me feel very uncomfortable. I tried to free myself by breaking

some of the strings which had been tied to stakes in the ground. I managed to
free my left arm and tried to pull hard on the left side of my head. It was very

painful but I succeeded in loosening some more stakes. Now, I was able to turn
my head about two inches.

As I was doing this, the little people ran away. I heard someone shout an order

and all at once about one hundred arrows shot through the air at me. Those
that landed on my face and hand felt like sharp needles.

I shouted with pain. I covered my face with my left hand and tried to break all

the strings. I wanted to get free but the little men shot more arrows. Some tried

to push their spears into me. Luckily, my jacket was made of a strong cloth and
their spears were not sharp enough to go through that.

I decided to lie still. When the people saw me lying still, they stopped shooting.

Then, they built a little platform. Its top was about eighteen inches from the
ground. One of the little men began to speak but I could not understand anything

that he said.

I was in pain because it was so hot. I opened my mouth and pointed to it because
I was hungry. He understood.

He ordered some people to place ladders against my sides and this they did
at once. More than a hundred men climbed up the ladder carrying baskets of

bread and meat. Their loaves of bread were so small that I ate three of them at
a time.

When I was thirsty, they rolled a barrel close to my head. It held about half a

pint of wine.

The little people were pleased because I had eaten their food. But, when I
wanted to be free, they made it clear that I could have food but not my freedom.

—Jonathan Swift

stakes — pieces of wood set in the ground for support; spear — javelin

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