We are not afraid to Die (English, CBSE) Summary - Class 11 PDF Download

 Page 1


 
 
 
Material downloaded from http://myCBSEguide.com and http://onlineteachers.co.in 
Portal for CBSE Notes, Test Papers, Sample Papers, Tips and Tricks 
Chapter – 2 
     We are not afraid to die ....  If we can all be together.     
­ Gordon cook and Alen East  
It is description of a sea adventure experienced by the narrator and his family. The  narrator, 
his wife Mary, son Jonathan and daughter Suzanne were accompanied by  two experienced 
sailors ­ American Larry vigil and Swiss Herb Seigler. In July 1976 they set sail from ply mouth, 
England in Wave Walker, a specially built boat. The first part of the journey was pleasant and 
everything went on smoothly up to Cape Town. 
Unfriendly weather and gigantic waves of Southern Indian Ocean compelled the sailors to slow 
theirs peed, drop storm jib and take other precautions. The danger was so implicit that the 
sailors completed lifer after drill and attached life lines and life jackets. On 2nd January 1977 
against wave hit wave walker and caused much damage to it. The sailors got injured and the 
narrator was thrown overboard but he managed to get hold of wave walker’s guard rails. In­
spite of his multiple injuries, he took hold of the wheel.  
In an atmosphere of fear and panic Mary took charge of the wheel whereas Larry and Herb 
started pumping out water. The narrator managed to stretch and cover canvas across the gaps 
to prevent water from entering the ship. Their hand pumps stopped working and electric 
pumps short­circuited. 
They we are distressed and busy in pumping, steering, repairing and radio signaling. They 
studied charts and calculative decided to reach a nearby island. They all were too busy in 
rescue work and did not take any meal for two days. Children were injured too but they did not 
draw attention of their parents and just allowed them to save Wave walker. The children said 
that they were not afraid to die if they could all be together. The narrator became more 
determined and strong seeing children’s courage. Finally they reached. Ile Amsterdam, a 
volcanic island where they were welcomed by 28 inhabitants. Thus, the collective strength and 
never failing optimism of the sailors made it possible to come out of the jaws of death. Though, 
Jonathan and Suzanne did not do anything to save Wavewalker but their courage, forbearance, 
faith and optimism gave extra strength and persistence  to  the narrator and his  team.