Tired as we were, two were sent out for firewood; two more were set to dig a grave for Red Ruff; the doctor was named cook; I was put sentry at the door; and the Captain himself went from one to another, keeping up our spirits and lending a hand wherever it was wanted.

11. From time to time the doctor came to the door for a little air and to rest his eyes, which were almost smoked out of his head; and whenever he did so, he had a word for me.

12. "That man, Smollett," he said once, "is a better man than I am. And when I say that it means a deal, Jim."

13. Another time he came and was silent for a while. Then he put his hand to one side and looked at me.

14. "Is this Ben Gunn a man?" he asked.

15. "I do not know, sir," said I. "I am not very sure whether he is sane."

16. "If there is any doubt about the matter he is," returned the doctor. "A man who has been three years biting his nails on a desert island, Jim, can't expect to appear as sane as you and me. It doesn't lie in human nature. Was it cheese you said he had a fancy for?" 17. "Yes, sir, cheese," I answered.

18. "Well, Jim," says he, "just see the good that comes from being dainty in your food. You've seen my snuff box, haven't you? And you never saw me take snuff; the reason being that in my snuff box I carry a piece of Parmesan cheese a cheese made in Italy, very nutritious. Well, that's for Ben Gunn!"

19. Before supper was eaten we buried old Tom in the sand, and stood round him for a while bare-headed in the breeze. A good deal of firewood had been got in, but not enough for the captain's fancy; and he shook his head over it, and told us we "must get back to this rather livelier to-morrow." Then, when we had eaten our pork, and each had a good stiff glass of brandy grog, the three chiefs got together in a corner to discuss our prospects.

20. It appears that they were at their wit's end what to do, the stores being so low that we must have been starved into surrender long before help came. But our best hope, it was decided, was to kill off the buccaneers

until they hauled down their flag or ran away with the Hispaniola. From nineteen they were already reduced to fifteen, two others were wounded, and one, at least the man shot beside the gun - severely wounded, if he were not dead. Every time we had a crack at them, we were to take it, saving our own lives, with the extremest care. And besides that we had two allies

climate.

rum and

21. As for the first, though we were about a half a mile away, we could hear them roaring and singing late into the night; and as for the second, the doctor staked his wig that the half of them would be on their backs before a week.

22. "So," he added, "if we are not all shot down first, they'll be glad to be packing in the schooner. It's always a ship and they can go to buccaneering again, I suppose." 23. "First ship that ever I lost," said Captain Smollett. 24. I was dead tired, as you may fancy; and when I got to sleep, which was not till after a great deal of tossing, I slept like a log of wood.

From "Treasure Island." STEVENSON.

CHAPTER V

THE SENTENCE

SECTION XVIII

Classification and Uses of Sentences

In the expression of thought words are grouped together in sentences. The complete expression of each separate thought forms a sentence. The sentence is the medium of all intelligent communication both in spoken and written language. It is of great importance that we should understand the laws which govern sentence structure, and their correct and effective use in thought communication.

Subject and Predicate. As the complete expression of a thought requires that something must be asserted of some subject, every group of words intended to express a complete thought must consist of two parts, a naming part and an asserting part. The naming part is called the subject and the asserting part is called the predicate. Careless writers sometimes treat as sentences groups of words that lack some essential element, usually a part of the predicate. You can avoid this error by examining your sentences to see whether they contain subjects and predicates.

Kinds of Sentences as to Meaning. — A sentence may be the simple statement of some fact, it may be a question, it may be a command, or it may be the expression of some strong feeling or emotion.

Examples.

1. I am reading Longfellow's poems. (Statement.) 2. When are you going home? (Question.)

3. Write a sentence on the blackboard. (Command.) 4. They cried, "A sail! a sail!" (Exclamation.)

Thus according to the manner in which sentences express thought they are classified as Declarative, Interrogative, Imperative, and Exclamatory.

Special Uses of Sentences. While the general uses of these different kinds of sentences are as indicated in the above examples, a thought which would naturally be expressed in one form is sometimes put into another form to produce certain results. For example, a fact is usually stated in a declarative sentence, but sometimes it is put into the form of a question or an exclamation to give force or emphasis. It may be called a rhetorical question or exclamation, as the case may be. Expressing a thought or a fact in the form of a question or an exclamation for the sake of emphasis is a method much employed by public speakers. Examples.

Is Washington dead? Is Hampden dead? Is David dead? Is any man that ever was fit to live dead?

BEECHER.

Is anything of God's contriving endangered by inquiry? Was it the system of the universe, or the monks, that trembled at the telescope of Galileo? Did the circulation of the firmament stop in terror because Newton laid his daring finger upon its pulse? But it is idle to discuss a proposition so monstrous! There is no right of sanctuary for a crime against humanity, and they who drag an unclean thing to the horns of the altar, bring it to vengeance and not to safety!— LOWELl.

In the examples quoted you see that facts which might have been stated in declarative sentences are expressed in the interrogative and the exclamatory form for the sake of emphasis. Consider how much more effective these sentences are than if the declarative form had been used.

Exercises

In the following selections change the sentences having the interrogative form to the declarative, and then compare with the original form, to determine which is more emphatic.

They tell us, sir, that we are weak, unable to cope with so formidable an adversary. But when shall we be stronger? Will it be the next week or the next year? Will it be when we are totally disarmed, and when a British guard shall be stationed in every house? Shall we gather strength by irresolution and inaction? Shall we acquire the means of effectual resistance by lying supinely upon our backs, and hugging the delusive phantom of hope, until our enemies shall have bound us hand and foot?- PATRICK HENRY.

Is any man so weak as now to hope for a reconciliation with England, which shall leave either safety to the country and its liberties, or safety to his own life and his honor? Are you not, sir, who sit in that honorable chair, is not he our venerable colleague near you, are you not both already the prescribed and predestined objects of punishment and vengeance? Cut off from all hope of clemency, what are you, what can you be, while the power of England remains, but outlaws? If we postpone independence do we mean to carry on, or to give up the war? Do we mean to submit to the measures of Parliament, Boston Port-bill, and all? Do we mean to submit and consent that we ourselves shall be ground to powder, and our country and its rights trodden down in the dust?

From "Supposed Speech of John Adams.”

WEBSTER.

In the following, change the exclamatory sentences to the declarative form and consider which form is more pleasing:

How sweet the moonlight sleeps upon this bank!

SHAKESPEARE.

What a charm there is connected with the great mountains! How the mind is filled with their vast solitudes! How the inward eye is fixed on their silent, their sublime,