Two days later, everything I needed for my plan was ready.
"This morning I will go to Blefuscu," I told the king.
"I hope your plan works," he replied.
"Lilliput's fate depends on you!"
"I'll be back soon," I said.
I went down to the shore, carrying the fifty hooks.
Each had a rope tied to it.
I took off my shoes and socks, waded into the sea, and headed for Blefuscu.
The water between the two islands was shallow, so I could walk most of the way.
Soon I reached the harbor of Blefuscu.
When the Blefuscans saw me, they were very frightened.
I heard someone shout, "A giant! Run for your lives."
Another man screamed, "That monster will kill us all!"
The Blefuscans jumped out of their ships and swam to shore.
Many of the people shot arrows at me.
To each ship I attached a hook and rope.
Then I gathered all the ropes and began to pull them.
None of the ships moved.
"What's the problem?"
I wondered. Then I understood.
"It's the anchors!"
Each ship had a heavy anchor that kept it in place.
I went from ship to ship and cut all the anchor ropes with my knife.
Then I pulled on the ropes I had tied to the ships.
Slowly, they started to move.
I walked through the waves, pulling the ships behind me.
On the shore, the Blefuscans shouted and screamed as I towed their ships away.
They could do nothing to prevent me.
Luckily, the tide was out and the water was becoming shallower.
I did not have to swim and pull the ships at the same time.
I could wade all the way back to Lilliput.
The king of Lilliput and many other people were watching from the shore of that island.
They could see the ships coming.
They could not see me because only my head was above water.
They were in despair.
They thought that the Blefuscans were attacking Lilliput and that I must have drowned.
As I neared the shore, I called out,
"Long live the king of Lilliput!"
When the king and his people finally saw me, they shouted, "Hooray! Welcome back!"
They were very happy to see me.
The king even came to meet me at the edge of the water.
"My people and I are very grateful to you, Enormous One," he said.
"You have saved Lilliput. Thank you."
"I am happy that I could help you," I replied.
"You are very brave," the king continued.
"From now on, you will be one of my chief advisers."
"That is a great honor," I said to the king.
"Now I would like to ask another favor," he said.
"Go back and steal the rest of the Blefuscans' ships.
Then they will never be able to attack us again.
I will have power over them forever.
I will destroy all the Big-Endians.
I will be king of everywhere."
"I am sorry, Your Majesty," I replied.
"I cannot agree to do that."
"Why not?" he demanded.
"Blefuscu is a good country like Lilliput," I said, "and should be free like Lilliput.
I think the two countries should live in peace from now on."
"I want the rest of the Blefuscan ships," the king insisted.
"You must obey my order."
"I cannot help you, Your Majesty," I told him again.
I tried to make him understand my point of view, but I failed.
The king was very angry because I refused to do as he asked.