TO LILLIPUT. 135

necessity I was forced to swim behind, and push tbe boat for-
ward, as often as I could, with one of my hands ; and the tide
favouring me, I advanced so far, that I could just hold up my
chin and feel the ground. I rested two or three minutes, and
then gave the boat another shove; and so on, till the sea
was no higher than my arm-pits ; and now, the most laborious
part being over, I took out my other 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
favourable, the seamen towed, and I shoved, until 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 thou-
sand men, with ropes and engines, 1 turned it on its bottom,
and found it was but little damaged. A mighty concourse of
people appeared upon my arrival, full of wonder at the sight of
s0 prodigious a vessel. I told the Emperor that my good
fortune had thrown this boat in my way, to carry me to some
place, whence I might return to my native country, and begged
his orders for getting materials to fit it up, together
with his license to depart; which, after some kind expostula~
tions, he was pleased to grant.

While I was preparing to depart, an envoy arrived at the
court of Blefuscu, representing that I had fled from justice ;
and that if I did not return in two hours I should be deprived
of my title of nardac, and declared a traitor. The envoy
farther added, that, in order to maintain the peace and amity
between both empires, his master expected that his brother of
Blefuscu would give orders to have me sent back to Lilliput,
bound hand and foot, to be punished as a traitor. The Emperor
of Blefuscu, having taken three days to consult, returned an
answer consisting of many civilities and excuses. He said, that
as for sending me bound, his brother knew it was impossible ;