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Blue Fairy Book

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much attached to his young master, went straight to him and revealed the whole plot. "I'll soon put a stop to the business," said<br />

the tailor. That night he and his wife went to bed at the usual time; and when she thought he had fallen asleep she got up,<br />

opened the door, and then lay down again. The little tailor, who had only pretended to be asleep, began to call out in a clear<br />

voice: "My lad, make that waistcoat and patch those trousers, or I'll box your ears. I have killed seven at a blow, slain two<br />

giants, led a unicorn captive, and caught a wild boar, then why should I be afraid of those men standing outside my door?" The<br />

men, when they heard the tailor saying these words, were so terrified that they fled as if pursued by a wild army, and didn't dare<br />

go near him again. So the little tailor was and remained a king all the days of his life.<br />

A VOYAGE TO LILLIPUT<br />

CHAPTER I<br />

MY father had a small estate in Nottinghamshire, and I was the third of four sons. He sent me to Cambridge at fourteen years<br />

old, and after studying there three years I was bound apprentice to Mr. Bates, a famous surgeon in London. There, as my father<br />

now and then sent me small sums of money, I spent them in learning navigation, and other arts useful to those who travel, as I<br />

always believed it would be some time or other my fortune to do.<br />

Three years after my leaving him my good master, Mr. Bates, recommended me as ship's surgeon to the "Swallow," on which<br />

I voyaged three years. When I came back I settled in London, and, having taken part of a small house, I married Miss Mary<br />

Burton, daughter of Mr. Edmund Burton, hosier.<br />

But my good master Bates died two years after; and as I had few friends my business began to fail, and I determined to go<br />

again to sea. After several voyages, I accepted an offer from Captain W. Pritchard, master of the "Antelope," who was making a<br />

voyage to the South Sea. We set sail from Bristol, May 4, 1699; and our voyage at first was very prosperous.

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