16. Late one night, Gulliver received a warning that some nobles wanted him killed. Even the emperor of Lilliput wanted to give him less food to save (1)
. It was true Gulliver was very expensive.
Quickly, he wrote a letter to the emperor, "I'm (2)
to visit Blefuscu, as I promised."
Then he hurried down to the sea (3)
Lilliput and Blefuscu.
The king of Blefuscu himself came out to meet him.
"Welcome!" cried the king. "Stay as (4)
as you like."
Walking on the beach a week later, Gulliver saw out at sea a small boat — but a full-sized one. It was (5)
upside down in the water.
Gulliver rushed to the king. He begged, "Can you help me rescue the boat? This could be my chance to go home."
"Of course," said the king. "Take some ships to help you."
Gulliver swam out to the boat, holding ropes from each of the (6)
.
With the ships pulling and Gulliver (7)
, the boat was brought safely to shore.
Gulliver and the king's men set about fixing the boat for his long journey home. Soon, the boat was finished.
"I'd like to leave now," Gulliver told the king. "But no one at home will (8)
my story. Could I take some of your people with me?"
"I can't possibly (9)
that,"said the king. "But you may take some (10)
and a sheep."
He also gave Gulliver fifty bags of gold coins. "I don't want you to go," he said. "But I understand (11)
you have to."
"Thank you," said Gulliver. "I'll never (12)
you all."
After only a few days at sea in his boat, Gulliver saw a ship. He shouted and waved wildly.
He was (13)
! One sailor found him. The ship sailed over and (14)
Gulliver. "Where have you come from?"asked the captain. "A place called Lilliput," said Gulliver and he showed the captain the (15)
from the emperor.
The captain was so surprised. For a few gold coins and a couple of cows, he agreed to take Gulliver all the way home.
—— Adapted from
Gulliver's Travels