Page 15 - 6th std Eng SL text 2019-20

back to land. They also had the danger of dashing against
high rocks in the darkness in the sea or being unable to see
which was a safe place to land. These lighthouses guided
them to safety.”

Rajiv asked, “Papa when was the first lighthouse built?”
“I don’t know, my son,” Madhav replied. “But I believe that in
the olden days many fishermen were lost in the sea and were
unable to return home. The people on the land were worried
and yet helpless to guide them. Then a group of clever young
men hit upon this idea. They collected a few huge logs and
lots of dry branches and set fire to them. They were laughed
at by elders. But they continued to keep the fire burning. In
the early hours of next morning, the fishermen sailed home.
They said that they had been guided from the land and saved
only because of the light of this fire, which they had seen from
a distance.”

Rajiv exclaimed, “How clever of the humans!”

Madhav said, “Yes. Now, shall we go home after you have
your favourite ice cream?”

Rajiv said, “Oh, yes Papa, thank you.”

3