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links in the chain？ How much of the text is pure description？
Having this essential body of the story in mind； one then decides
which of the steps toward the climax are needed for safe arrival there； and
keeps these。 When two or more steps can be covered in a single stride； one
makes the stride。 When a necessary explanation is unduly long； or is
woven into the story in too many strands； one disposes of it in an
introductory statement； or perhaps in a side remark。 If there are two or
more threads of narrative； one chooses among them； and holds strictly to
the one chosen； eliminating details which concern the others。
In order to hold the simplicity of plot so attained； it is also desirable to
have but few personages in the story； and to narrate the action from the
point of view of one of them；usually the hero。 To shift the point of view
of the action is confusing to the child's mind。
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When the analysis and condensation have been accomplished； the
whole must be cast in simple language； keeping if possible the same kind
of speech as that used in the original； but changing difficult or technical
terms to plain； and complex images to simple and familiar ones。
All types of adaptation share in this need of simple language；stories
which are too short； as well as those which are too long； have this feature
in their changed form。 The change in a short story is applied oftenest
where it becomes desirable to amplify a single anecdote； or perhaps a
fable； which is told in very condensed form。 Such an instance is the
following anecdote of heroism； which in the original is quoted in one of F。
W。 Robertson's lectures on Poetry。
A detachment of troops was marching along a valley； the cliffs
overhanging which were crested by the enemy。 A sergeant； with eleven
men； chanced to become separated from the rest by taking the wrong side
of a ravine； which they expected soon to terminate； but which suddenly
deepened into an impassable chasm。 The officer in command signalled to
the party an order to return。 They mistook the signal for a command to
charge； the brave fellows answered with a cheer； and charged。 At the
summit of the steep mountain was a triangular platform； defended by a
breastwork； behind which were seventy of the foe。 On they went； charging
up one of those fearful paths； eleven against seventy。 The contest could not
long be doubtful with such odds。 One after another they fell； six upon the
spot； the remainder hurled backwards； but not until they had slain nearly
twice their own number。
There is a custom； we are told； amongst the hillsmen； that when a great
chieftain of their own falls in battle； his wrist is bound with a thread either
of red or green； the red denoting the highest rank。 According to custom；
they stripped the dead； and threw their bodies over the precipice。 When
their comrades came； they found their corpses stark and gashed； but round
both wrists of every British hero was twined the red thread！
This anecdote serves its purpose of illustration perfectly well； but
considered as a separate story it is somewhat too explanatory in diction；
and too condensed in form。 Just as the long story is analysed for reduction
of given details； so this must be analysed；to find the details implied。 We
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HOW TO TELL STORIES TO CHILDREN AND SOME STORIES TO TELL
have to read into it again all that has been left between the lines。
Moreover； the order must be slightly changed； if we are to end with the
proper 〃snap；〃 the final sting of surprise and admiration given by the point
of the story； the point must be prepared for。 The purpose of the original is
equally well served by the explanation at the end； but we must never
forget that the place for the climax； or effective point in a story told； is the
last thing said。 That is what makes a story 〃go off〃 well。
Imagining vividly the situation suggested； and keeping the logical
sequence of facts in mind； shall we not find the story telling itself to boys
and girls in somewhat this form？
THE RED THREAD OF COURAGE＇1＇
＇1＇ See also The Red Thread of Honour； by Sir Francis Doyle； in Lyra
Heroica；
This story which I am going to tell you is a true one。 It happened
while the English troops in India were fighting against some of the native
tribes。 The natives who were making trouble were people from the hill…
country； called Hillsmen； and they were strong enemies。 The English knew
very little about them； except their courage； but they had noticed one
peculiar custom； after certain battles；the Hillsmen had a way of marking
the bodies of their greatest chiefs who were killed in battle by binding a
red thread about the wrist； this was the highest tribute they could pay a
hero。 The English； however； found the common men of them quite enough
to handle； for they had proved themselves good fighters and clever at
ambushes。
One day； a small body of the English had marched a long way into the
hill country； after the enemy； and in the afternoon they found themselves
in a part of the country strange even to the guides。 The men moved
forward very slowly and cautiously； for fear of an ambush。 The trail led
into a narrow valley with very steep； high； rocky sides； topped with woods
in which the enemy might easily hide。
Here the soldiers were ordered to advance more quickly； though with
caution； to get out of the dangerous place。
After a little they came suddenly to a place where the passage was
divided in two by a big three…cornered boulder which seemed to rise from
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the midst of the valley。 The main line of men kept to the right； to save
crowding the path； a sergeant and eleven men took the left； meaning to go
round the rock and meet the rest beyond it。
They had been in the path only a few minutes when they saw that the
rock was not a single boulder at all； but an arm of the left wall of the
valley； and that they were marching into a deep ravine with no outlet
except the way they came。 Both sides were sheer rock； almost
perpendicular； with thick trees at the top； in front of them the ground rose
in a steep hill； bare of woods。 As they looked up； they saw that the top was
barricaded by the trunks of trees； and guarded by a strong body of
Hillsmen。 As the English hesitated； looking at this； a shower of spears fell
from the wood's edge； aimed by hidden foes。 The place was a death trap。
At this moment； their danger was seen by the officer in command of
the main body； and he signalled to the sergeant to retreat。
By some terrible mischance； the signal was misunderstood。 The men
took it for the signal to charge。 Without a moment's pause； straight up the
slope； they charged on the run； cheering as they ran。
Some were killed by the spears that were thrown from the cliffs；
before they had gone half way； some were stabbed as they reached the
crest； and hurled backward from the precipice； two or three got to the top；
and fought hand to hand with the Hillsmen。 They were outnumbered；
seven to one； but when the last of the English soldiers lay dead； twice their
number of Hillsmen lay dead around them！
When the relief party reached the spot； later in the day； they found the
bodies of their comrades； full of wounds； huddled over and in the
barricade； or crushed on the rocks below。 They were mutilated and
battered； and bore every sign of the terrible struggle。 BUT ROUND
BOTH WRISTS OF EVERY BRITISH SOLDIER WAS BOUND THE
RED THREAD！
The Hillsmen had paid greater honour to their heroic foes than to the
bravest of their own brave d