Whereupon the Emperor , his father , made a law commanding all his subjects to break the smaller end of their eggs . The people so highly resented this law that there have been six rebellions raised on that account , wherein one emperor lost his life , and another his crown . It is calculated that eleven hundred persons have at different times suffered rather than break their eggs at the smaller end . But these rebels , the Bigendians , have found so much encouragement at the Emperor of Blefuscu 's Court , to which they always fled for refuge , that a bloody war , as I said , has been carried on between the two empires for six-and-thirty moons ; and now the Blefuscudians have equipped a large fleet , and are preparing to descend upon us . Therefore his Imperial Majesty , placing great confidence in your valor and strength , has commanded me to set the case before you . '' I desired the secretary to present my humble duty to the Emperor , and to let him know that I was ready , at the risk of my life , to defend him against all invaders . CHAPTER IV It was not long before I communicated to his Majesty the plan I formed for seizing the enemy 's whole fleet . The Empire of Blefuscu is an island parted from Lilliput only by a channel eight hundred yards wide . I consulted the most experienced seamen on the depth of the channel , and they told me that in the middle , at high water , it was seventy glumguffs -LRB- about six feet of European measure -RRB- . I walked toward the coast , where , lying down behind a hillock , I took out my spy-glass , and viewed the enemy 's fleet at anchor -- about fifty men-of-war , and other vessels . I then came back to my house and gave orders for a great quantity of the strongest cables and bars of iron . The cable was about as thick as packthread , and the bars of the length and size of a knitting-needle . I trebled the cable to make it stronger , and for the same reason twisted three of the iron bars together , bending the ends into a hook . Having thus fixed fifty hooks to as many cables , I went back to the coast , and taking off my coat , shoes , and stockings , walked into the sea in my leather jacket about half an hour before high water . I waded with what haste I could , swimming in the middle about thirty yards , till I felt ground , and thus arrived at the fleet in less than half an hour . The enemy was so frightened when they saw me that they leaped out of their ships and swam ashore , where there could not be fewer than thirty thousand . Then , fastening a hook to the hole at the prow of each ship , I tied all the cords together at the end . Meanwhile the enemy discharged several thousand arrows , many of which stuck in my hands and face . My greatest fear was for my eyes , which I should have lost if I had not suddenly thought of the pair of spectacles which had escaped the Emperor 's searchers . These I took out and fastened upon my nose , and thus armed went on with my work in spite of the arrows , many of which struck against the glasses of my spectacles , but without any other effect than slightly disturbing them .
Then , taking the knot in my hand , I began XXXXX pull ; but not a ship would stir , for they were too fast held by their anchors .
against before behind by if into of than to upon