Gulliver’s Travels a voyage to brobdingnag Part I I

I stayed only two months with my wife and family, because my great wish to see other countries did not let me stay longer. So, on the 20th of June, 1702, I left England on board the Adventure, which was sailing to India. The wind was good till we came to the Cape of Good Hope, where we landed for fresh water and also to repair the ship. Then our captain fell ill. So we were able to leave the Cape only at the end of March, 1703. We sailed to the north-east and had a good voyage at first, but on the 19th of April a very strong wind began to blow from the west and did not stop for twenty days. It carried us right across the Indian Ocean from west to east and out into the Pacific Ocean. Then the wind dropped and we were glad, but the captain told us to prepare for a storm. And next day a terrible storm really began. It was followed by a strong wind which carried us to the north-east, I think, about fifteen hundred miles. So, when the storm was over, the oldest sailor on board could not tell in what part of the world we were. Luckily, all our sailors were in good health and we had enough food, but very little fresh water.

On the 16th of June, 1703, a boy, who was sitting on the mast, saw land. We did not know what land it was. Our ship could not approach the coast because there were many sharp rocks and the sea was very rough. So we dropped an anchor, and the captain sent some of the sailors in a boat to look for fresh water. I asked the captain to let me go with them because I wanted to see the country.

When we reached the land, we saw no rivers and no sign of people. So the sailors went along the shore to find some fresh water, and I walked about a mile. I did not see any­thing interesting. I was tired and went back. When I reached the shore, I was very much surprised to see that our sailors were already in the boat and the boat was returning quickly to the ship. I opened my mouth to shout to them when I saw a giant. He was walking through the water after the boat. But the boat was already far from the shore, and the rocks were very sharp, so he could not catch it. I was frightened to death and ran inland as fast as I could.

Exercises

1. Open the brackets.

I (to stay) ______________ only two months with my wife and family, because my great wish (to see) ___________ other countries did not let me stay longer. So, on the 20th of June, 1702, I (to leave) ___________ England on board the Adventure, which (to sail) _____________ to India. The wind (to be) ________ good till we (to come) __________ to the Cape of Good Hope, where we (to land) __________ for fresh water and also to repair the ship.

2. Fill in the prepositions.

So we were able to leave the Cape only ______ the end _____ March, 1703. We sailed _____ the north-east and had a good voyage _____ first, but _____ the 19th ____ April a very strong wind began to blow _____ the west and did not stop ____ twenty days. It carried us right _____ the Indian Ocean ______ west ____ east and ____ ____ the Pacific Ocean.