Introduction

The narrator Gordon Cook, his wife Mary and their children, Jonathan and
Suzanne set sail on a ship to imitate the historical round-the world voyage
undertaken by James Cook in 1768. The journey began from Plymouth,
England and headed south to Cape Town, South Africa. It was expected to
journey to Australia through the endless Indian Ocean and finally return to
England. Unfortunately the ship partially wrecked in the Indian Ocean and the
sailors faced death very close.
The narrative describes the near death experience of these hapless people,
their hard work, the childrens encouraging messages, their willingness to die
with their father and mother, hours of endurance and finally their reaching Ile
Amsterdam, a tiny island.

Summary
The narrative describes how optimism, determination and strong will power raise ones spirits
and help us overcome all forms of stressful situations.
The narrator was a 37 years old businessmen. His dream was to travel around the world
through sea just like Captain James Cook which he wished to complete in three years. He
was along with his wife Mary, his daughter Suzanne and his son who was only six years old.
The first phase was about 105,000 kilometres up to the South African seaport of Cape Town,
which passed off very pleasantly. The second part of the journey was for 150,000 kilometres.
This phase was completed in Australia. On 25th December, the writer's ship was in the
southern Indian Ocean, 3500 kilometres to the east of Cape Town. The family celebrated their
new year (1977) on board the ship. Next came a phase when the ship was caught in the
stormy seas. The weather suddenly became very terrible. The writer thought that their ship
would ride over the waves but were heavily caught amidst the stormy situations at the sea.
There was water everywhere and they found the ship to be sinking.
The condition was extremely helpless and very pathetic. Water was gushing in from
everywhere. Debris was floating across the cabins. The electric pump was also not working
as it had short-circuited. They had to keep pumping and steering all night long. The writer's
daughter's head had swollen and she had a deep injury. However, the bravery of the strongwilled children is noteworthy in the story.
On January 4, they breathed a sigh of relief after having survived 36 hours of continuous
pumping. However, their relief seemed to be quite short-lived because by evening that day
the sea again witnessed bad weather. This is the turning point of the story when we see the
author consoling the children. It was quite amazing that the children exclaimed ...we aren't
afraid of dying if we can all be together. This led to the building energy and enthusiasm inside
a very extremely fatigued writer. He decided to heave and fight the sea.
Next day saw a very bright morning. He was welcomed by his children who exclaimed You
are the best daddy in the world. He rushed to the deck and to his amazement, gazed at the
stark outline of Ile Amsterdam. It seemed to him to be the most beautiful island in the world.
They anchored off shore for the night and then were welcomed by the 28 inhabitants of the
island the next morning. All along, the only thing which filled the writer's mind was the

undeterred courage which his wife Mary showed, his daughter who didn't worry about her
head injury and his son who wasn't afraid of dying.

Short Answer Questions

Q. Why does the reader find the two children, Jonathan and Suzanne, worth significant
mentioning?
Ans. Along with the adults, the two children too are worth mentioning as they showed
exemplary courage and understanding even in the face of death. Fear and fear factors are
associated with death but love conquers both. When the captain the childrens father lost
the last speck of his hope, it was the children who rekindled it.
Q. The incident established natures overpowering fury and compassion.
Ans. The idea of losing ones life can throw even the mightiest out of gear. Hence, natural
calamities like Earthquake, tsunamis and floods strike us with fear and defeat us with death
but this very nature has in its bosom tiny pinpricks where man can run to for safety. In the sea
was death but in the same sea was hope.
Q. What for did the narrator and his family undertake an adventurous trip?
Ans. The author with his wife Mary and their two children-Jonathan and Suzanne-was the
family of extreme adventure nature. They tried to duplicate the round the world voyage
accomplished by their forefather Captain James Cook in their professionally built ship - The
Wavewalker
Q. What for did Cook take two crewmen from Cape Town? Did that decision turn out
good?
Ans. Cook and his family picked up two crew men-American Vigil and Swiss Herb to tackle of
the worlds roughest seas-The Southern Indian Ocean. This very soon turned out for good
because the two men vigorous and adventurous helped the family. when the ship was
sinking. Though silent in the narrative, their contribution is matchless.

Q. How did Jonathan react to the desperate situation they found

themselves in on 5th January?
Ans. Jonathan asked his father if they were all going to die. On the fathers
reassurance, he said that they were not afraid of dying if they could all be
together his dad, mom, Sue and himself.
Q. How did the narrator respond to little Jons words? What do his
actions reveal about his character?
Ans. The narrator could not find any words to respond to his sons remark.
However, as he left his childrens cabin, he was determined to fight the sea
with everything he had. This shows his courageous nature and his love for his
children. He was a caring father who wanted to save his children at all costs.
Q. How did Sue try to enliven the gloomy atmosphere?

Ans. Sue tried to enliven the gloomy atmosphere by trying her hand at making
a card for her parents. She had drawn their caricatures and written that she
had drawn some funny people. She had written that she loved both her
parents. The card expressed her heartfelt thanks to them and she hoped for
the best.
Q. Who do you think did the narrator call Ile Amsterdam the most
beautiful island in the world?
Ans. The island was only a bleak piece of volcanic rock with little vegetation
the author called it the most beautiful island in the world because it had given
them a ray of hope for survival. They could at least anchor there and repair
their ship.
Q. What did the narrator think of on landing at Ile Amsterdam? Why?
Ans. On landing at Ile Amsterdam, the narrators thoughts were full of Larry
and Herbie, his crew members who remained cheerful and optimistic
throughout the hardships. He thought of his wife also, who stayed at the
wheel for all those crucial hours? He also thought of his daughter, who had
been so brave all through the ordeal and had not bothered about her head
injury.
Q. How can you say that Suzannes injuries were serious?
Ans. Suzannes injuries were serious because she had to undergo six minor
surgeries to remove a recurring blood clot between her skin and skull. She
had also injured her arm and had two black eyes.
Q. Optimism and courage help to tide over difficulties. How did the
narrator succeed in searching the small island?
Ans. Despite the lost compass and a faulty compass, the author did not lose
hope. He used his intelligence to estimate the influence of the westerly
currents which flowed
through that part of the Ocean. He asked Larry to steer a course of 185
degrees and remained optimistic about spotting the island at about 5 pm.
Q. Why do you think people undertake such adventurous expeditions in
spite of the risks involved?
Ans. People undertake such adventurous expeditions due to two reasons.
They have the passionate thrive for risk, thrill and uncertainty and they push
their limits of skill and endurance. They seek such adventures for pure joy and
exhilaration. They also want to do certain things for attaining name, fame and
recognition.
Q. Why did the narrator undertake the round the world voyage? What
did he do for this mission?
Ans. The narrator wanted the achievement of duplicating the round the world
voyage made two hundred years earlier by Captain James Cook. He had

spent sixteen years preparing for this brave adventure. He acquired

experience in sailing around the British waters. They had tested their boat
Wave walker in the roughest weather.
Q. When did the narrator set sail for its round the world voyage and
how did it pass in the beginning?
The narrator set sail from Plymouth, England in July 1976 with his wife Mary,
six year old son Jonathan, seven year old daughter Suzanne and two crew
men, an American called Larry Vigil and a Swiss Herb Seigler. The first part of
the voyage remained uneventful and it passed pleasantly from the west coast
of Africa to Capetown.
Q. What happened on January 2nd? What did the narrator do to face the
strong or high waves?
Ans. Early morning on January2, the waves were huge and sea was
extremely rough. Their ship was hit by strong mighty waves. They slowed
down the speed of the boat and double lashed everything. They got ready to
face the danger by wearing life jackets and they waited for the worst.
Q. What happened to the narrator and what did he do to face the
disaster?
Ans. The roar of the thunder increased and then a huge torrent of sea water
broke over the ship. The narrators head smashed into the wheel and he
accepted his approaching death. His lifeline was tightly stretched and he felt
that his left ribs were cracked, his mouth was filled with blood and broken
teeth. He still found the wheel and hung on.
Q. What was the scene before the narrators eyes after the crash of the
Giant wave?
The boat was filled with water. Larry and Herb were pumping water out of the
ship. Broken timber, clothes, crockery, charts, tins and toys were floating
everywhere.
Give a brief description of the narrators boat. How did the narrator equip and
test it?
The narrators boat named Wavewalker was 23 metres long, 30 ton wooden
boat. It was built professionally and had been tested in the roughest weather.
The author had spent months in fitting it out.
Q. When and with whom did the narrator begin his voyage?
The narrator began his voyage in July 1976 with his wife Mary, son Jonathan,
6, and daughter Suzanne who was seven years old. Later they were joined by
two crewmen Larry and Herb Seigler.
Q. I had no time to worry about bumped heads, says the narrator.
What problems do you think deserved his immediate attention?

Ans. The problem that deserved immediate attention was the repair of the
starboard side which had bashed open and with every wave, it was letting
water enter the boat. If he did not make some repairs, the boat would have
surely sunk and they would have drowned.
Q. What problems in plenty did the narrator face during the night of
January 2, 1977?
Ans. On the night of January 2, around 6 pm the wind dropped and the sky
grew dark. A growing roar came and an enormous cloud formed in the sky
right above the ship. The narrator thought it was a cloud but it was actually a
gigantic wave and was twice the height of other waves. The wave hit the ship
hard and the narrators head hit the wheel and he became unconscious.
Q. I didnt want to worry you when you were trying to save us all, said
Sue. What has happened to her?
Sue had hit her head somewhere and a huge bump had formed above her
eyes. Later her head became swollen alarmingly and she had a deep cut on
her arm. She had been brave and did not want to worry her father.
Q. What do you observe about the reaction of the adults and the
children when faced with disaster?
Ans. The children show amazing maturity and resilience in the face of
disaster. They remain strong and composed. Despite serious injuries, both the
children show courage and patience. Suzanne was brave enough to write a
card. John said that they were not afraid to die if they could all be together.
The adults also reacted with a fighting spirit and optimism. Their undaunted
efforts helped them to survive the disaster.
Q. When do you think, Mary and the narrator feel the end was near? Why
did they feel so?
Ans. As the motion of the ship brought more and more water in the boat
through the broken planks, the author and his wife felt that their end was near.
He had tried his best to repair the ship but had not been completely
successful.

Long Answer Questions

Q. How did the narrator and his family face the disaster in the form of a
huge wave that struck the Wave Walker?
Ans. The narrator dropped the storm jib and tied heavy rope attached to the
anchor in a loop across the stern. Along with his crew, he double fastened
everything. The first mighty wave seemed to have destroyed everything and in
order to remain afloat they had to act fast. The narrator handed over the
wheel to Mary. He stretched canvas and fastened water proof hatch covers
across the gaping holes in the star board side. As the two pumps got blocked
and the electric pump short circuited. He found another electric pump and

started it. The narrator checked the charts and found that there were two
small islands, a few hundred kilometres to the east. But their chances of
sailing to those islands were slim because the wind and sea did not seem to
abate. He re-checked his calculations. They had lost the main compass but
he made discount for magnetic variation in the spare one and then asked
Larry to steer a course of 180degrees. They succeeded in reaching Ile
Amsterdam in 4 hours.
Q. What impression do you form about the narrator on the basis of this
extract?
Ans. The narrator was a lover of thrill and adventure. He had dreamt of going
on round the world sea voyage since childhood. He had worked with diligence
and prepared for the trip with great care and attention. He had a practical
approach and he remained alert and strong willed. He engaged two crew men
to assist him and he received full co-operation and help from his family. They
made advance and immediate arrangements to face the violent storms during
their voyage. He did not lose hope and remained calm and courageous in the
face of difficulties. He had his priorities fixed. Repairing the damaged ship was
essential despite his injuries. He worked and motivated everyone in the
rescue operations. He was resourceful and quick to improvise. He managed
to calculate a new course and his precise calculations brought them safely to
an island. His presence of mind helped them to overcome troubles. He was
levelheaded and his courage and practical knowledge made him a good
captain. His children also proved to be sensible, mature and resilient in the
face of adversity.
Q. What do you think of the narrator as a captain? How did the crew and
the family members show courage during distress?
Ans. This is a story of human endurance, selflessness and courage in the
face of adversity. Traditionally, the captain of the ship must go down with it
and attempt only to save the passengers. However, in this story, we see other
traits in the narrator which make him a good captain.
The narrator was able to think rationally, prioritize and recall important
information under distress. He was able to recall the backup electric pump,
waterproofed the ship and performed repairs as required, identified nearest
land/port and performed intense calculations despite the lack of proper
equipment, did not convey his fears to his crew and presented a confident
face throughout enhancing the morale of his team.
The narrator's family and crew showed unconditional team spirit during
adversity. His wife helped with the navigation of the ship while his children
offered moral support. The crew members Larry and Herb worked tirelessly
and did not abandon ship.
Despite their young years, Jonathan and Suzanne showed courage and
optimistic fervour. Suzanne did not bother her parents with her injuries no
matter how extensive they were. She also made a card for her parents to
show her love and gratitude. Jonathan claimed he was not afraid even to die if
he were with his family.