The Flood Story

 A long time ago there was a very big crab3 which crawled into the sea. And when he went in he crowded the water out so that it ran all over the earth and covered all the land.

 

Now about one moon before this happened, a wise man had told the people that they must build a large raft.4 They did as he commanded and cut many large trees, until they had enough to make three layers. These they bound tightly¹ together, and when it was done they fastened the raft with a long rattan² cord to a big pole in the earth.

 

Soon after this the floods came. White water poured out of the hills, and the sea rose and covered even the highest mountains. The people and animals on the raft were safe, but all the others drowned. [126]

 

When the waters went down and the raft was again on the ground, it was near their old home, for the rattan cord had held.

 

But these were the only people left on the whole earth.

1 tightly   

adv.紧紧地，坚固地，牢固地

参考例句：

• My child holds onto my hand tightly while we cross the street.横穿马路时，孩子紧拉着我的手不放。
• The crowd pressed together so tightly that we could hardly breathe.人群挤在一起，我们几乎喘不过气来。

2 rattan   

n.藤条，藤杖

参考例句：

• When they reached a long bridge fastened with rattan strips,everyone got out and walked.走到那顶藤条扎的长桥，大家都下车步行。
• Rattan furniture,include rattan chair,rattan table,and so on.藤器家具包括藤椅藤桌等等。