cables, which were stowed in one of the ships, and fastened them first to the boat, and then to nine of the vessels which attended me; the wind being favorable, the seamen towed and I shoved, till we arrived within forty yards of the shore; and waiting till the tide was out, I got dry to the boat, and, by the assistance of two thousand men, with ropes and engines, I made a shift to turn it on its bottom, and found it was but little damaged.

[Illustration:  GULLIVER BRINGS IN THE DRIFTING BOAT]

I shall not trouble the reader with the difficulties I was under, by the help of certain paddles, which cost me ten days’ making, to get my boat to the royal port of Blefuscu, where a mighty concourse of people appeared upon my arrival, full of wonder at the sight of so prodigious a vessel.  I told the emperor that my good fortune had thrown this boat in my way to carry me some place from whence I might return into my native country; and begged his majesty’s orders for getting materials to fit it up, together with his license to depart; which, after some kind expostulations, he was pleased to grant.

Five hundred workmen were employed to make two sails to my boat, according to my directions, by quilting thirteen folds of their strongest linen together.  I was at the pains of making ropes and cables by twisting ten, twenty or thirty of the thickest and strongest of theirs.  A great stone that I happened to find served me for an anchor.  I had the tallow of three hundred cows for greasing my boat, and other uses.  I was at incredible pains in cutting down some of the largest timber-trees for oars and masts; wherein I was much assisted by his majesty’s ship carpenters, who helped me in smoothing them after I had done the rough work.

In about a month, when all was prepared, I sent to receive his majesty’s commands, and to take my leave.  The emperor and royal family came out of the palace:  I lay on my face to kiss his hand, which he very graciously gave me:  so did the empress and young princes of the blood.  His majesty presented me with fifty purses of two hundred sprugs apiece, together with his picture at full length, which I put immediately into one of my gloves, to keep it from being hurt.  The ceremonies at my departure were too many to trouble the reader with at this time.

I stored the boat with the carcasses of an hundred oxen and three hundred sheep, with bread and drink proportionable, and as much meat ready dressed as four hundred cooks could provide.  I took with me six cows and two bulls alive, with as many ewes and rams, intending to carry them into my own country, and propagate the breed.  And, to feed them on board, I had a good bundle of hay and a bag of corn.  I would gladly have taken a dozen of the natives, but this was a thing which the emperor would by no means permit; and, besides a diligent search into my pockets, his majesty engaged my honor not to carry away any of his subjects, although with their own consent and desire.