小说搜索     点击排行榜   最新入库
首页 » 英文短篇小说 » A Cadet's Honor » CHAPTER XXVIII. MARK MEETS THE SUPERINTENDENT.
选择底色: 选择字号:【大】【中】【小】
CHAPTER XXVIII. MARK MEETS THE SUPERINTENDENT.
关注小说网官方公众号(noveltingroom),原版名著免费领。
 "Yes, colonel, the lad is a hero, and I want to tell him so, too!"
 
The speaker was a tall, gray-haired gentleman, and he whacked1 his cane2 on the floor for emphasis as he spoke3.
 
"It was a splendid act, sir, splendid!" he continued. "And I want to thank Mark Mallory for it right here in your office."
 
The man he addressed wore the uniform of the United States army; he was Colonel Harvey, the superintendent4 of the West Point Academy.
 
"I shall be most happy to have you do so," he replied, smiling at this visitor's enthusiasm. "You have certainly," he added, "much to thank the young man for."
 
"Much!" echoed the other. "Much! Why, my dear sir, if that daughter of mine had been drowned I believe it would have killed me. She is my only child, and, if I do say it myself, sir, the sweetest girl that ever lived."
 
[Pg 232]"Wasn't it rather reckless, judge," inquired the other, "for you to allow her to go sailing alone?"
 
"She is used to the boat," responded Judge Fuller, "but no one on earth could have handled it in such a gale5. I do not remember to have seen such a one in all the time I have lived up here."
 
"Nor I, either," said the superintendent. "It was so dark that I could scarcely see across the parade ground. It is almost miraculous6 that Mallory should have succeeded in finding the boat as he did."
 
"Tell me about it," put in the other. "I have not been able to get a consistent account yet."
 
"Cadet Captain Fischer told me," responded the colonel. "It seems that he and Mallory were just at the finish of a swimming race when the storm broke. They caught sight of the boat with your daughter in it coming down stream. The plebe turned, exhausted7 though he was, and headed for it. It got so dark then that those on shore could scarcely see; but the lad managed to catch the boat as it passed and climbed aboard. Just then the boom swung round and flung the girl into the water. Mallory dived again at once——"
 
"Splendid!" interrupted the other.
 
[Pg 233]"And swam ashore8 with her."
 
"And then fainted, they say," the judge added.
 
"Yes," said Colonel Harvey. "Dr. Grimes told me that it was one of the worst cases of exhaustion9 he had ever seen. But the lad is doing well now; he appears to be a very vigorous youngster—and I've an idea several of the yearlings found that out to their discomfort10. The doctor told me that he thought he would be out this morning; the accident was only two days ago."
 
"That is fortunate," responded the other. "The boy is too good to lose."
 
"He appears to be a remarkable11 lad generally," continued the superintendent. "I have heard several tales about him. Some of the stories came to me 'unofficially,' as we call it, and I don't believe Mallory would rest easily if he thought I knew of them. Young Fischer, who's a splendid man himself, I'll tell you, informed me yesterday that the plebe had earned his admission fee by bringing help to a wrecked12 train and telegraphing the account to a New York paper."
 
"I heard he had been in some trouble about demerits," put in Judge Fuller.
 
"In very serious trouble. I had to take a very radical[Pg 234] step to get him out of it. Every once in a while I find that some new cadet is being 'skinned,' as the cadets call it, demerited unfairly. I always punish severely13 when I find that out. In this case, though, I had no proof; Mallory would say nothing, though he was within five demerits of expulsion. So I decided14 to end the whole matter by declaring a new rule I've been contemplating15 for some time. I've found that new cadets get too many demerits during the first few weeks, before they learn the rules thoroughly16. So I've decided that in future no demerits shall be given for the first three weeks, and that delinquencies shall be punished by extra hours and other penalties. That let Mallory out of his trouble, you see."
 
"A very clever scheme!" laughed the other. "Very clever!"
 
It may be of interest to notice that Colonel Harvey's rule has been in effect ever since.
 
There was silence of a few moments after that, during which Judge Fuller tapped the floor with his cane reflectively.
 
"You promised to let me see this Mallory," he said, suddenly. "I'm ready now."
 
[Pg 235]By way of answer, the superintendent rang a bell upon his desk.
 
"Go over to the hospital," he said to the orderly who appeared in the doorway17, "and find out if Cadet Mallory is able to be about. If he is, bring him here at once."
 
The boy disappeared and the colonel turned to his visitor and smiled.
 
"Is that satisfactory?" he inquired.
 
"Very!" responded the other. "And I only wish that you could send for my daughter to come over, too. I hope those surgeons are taking care of her."
 
"As much as if she were their own," answered the colonel. "I cannot tell you how glad I was to learn that she is beyond danger."
 
"It is God's mercy," said the other, with feeling. "She could not have had a much narrower escape."
 
And after that neither said anything until a knock at the door signaled the arrival of the orderly.
 
"Come in," called the superintendent, and two figures stepped into the room. One was the messenger, and the other was Mark.
 
"This," said the superintendent after a moment's pause, "is Cadet Mallory."
 
[Pg 236]And Cadet Mallory it was. The same old Mark, only paler and more weak just then.
 
Judge Fuller rose and bowed gravely.
 
"Sit down," said he, "you are not strong enough to stand."
 
And after that no one said anything for fully18 a minute; the last speaker resumed his seat and fell to studying Mark's face in silence. And Mark waited respectfully for him to begin.
 
"My name," said he at last, "is Fuller."
 
"Judge Fuller?" inquired Mark.
 
"Yes. And Grace Fuller is my daughter."
 
After that there was silence again, broken suddenly by the excitable old gentleman dropping his cane, springing up from his chair, and striding over toward the lad.
 
"I want to shake hands with you, sir! I want to shake hands with you!" he cried.
 
Mark was somewhat taken aback; but he arose and did as he was asked.
 
"And now," said the judge, "I guess that's all—sit down, sir, sit down; you've little strength left, I can see. I want to thank you, sir, for being the finest lad I've met for a long time. And when my daughter gets well[Pg 237]—which she will, thank the Lord—I'll be very glad to have you call on us, or else to let us call on you—seeing that we live beyond cadet limits. And if ever you get into trouble, here or anywhere, just come and see me about it, and I'll be much obliged to you. And that's all."
 
Having said which, the old gentleman stalked across the room once more, picked up his hat and cane, and made for the door.
 
"Good-day, sir," he said. "I'm going around now to see my daughter. Good-day, and God bless you."
 
After which the door was shut.
 
It was several minutes after that before Colonel Harvey said anything.
 
"You have made a powerful friend, my boy," he remarked, smiling at the recollection of the old gentleman's strange speech. "And you have brought honor upon the academy. I am proud of you—proud to have you here."
 
"Thank you, sir," said Mark, simply.
 
"All I have to say besides that," added the officer, "is to watch out that you stay. Don't get any more demerits."
 
"I'll try not, sir."
 
[Pg 238]"Do. And I guess you had best go and join your company now if the doctor thinks you're able. Something is happening to-day which always interests new cadets. I bid you good-morning, Mr. Mallory."
 
And Mark went out of that office and crossed the street to barracks feeling as if he were walking on air.
 

点击收听单词发音收听单词发音  

1 whacked je8z8E     
a.精疲力尽的
参考例句:
  • She whacked him with her handbag. 她用手提包狠狠地打他。
  • He whacked me on the back and I held both his arms. 他用力拍拍我的背,我抱住他的双臂。
2 cane RsNzT     
n.手杖,细长的茎,藤条;v.以杖击,以藤编制的
参考例句:
  • This sugar cane is quite a sweet and juicy.这甘蔗既甜又多汁。
  • English schoolmasters used to cane the boys as a punishment.英国小学老师过去常用教鞭打男学生作为惩罚。
3 spoke XryyC     
n.(车轮的)辐条;轮辐;破坏某人的计划;阻挠某人的行动 v.讲,谈(speak的过去式);说;演说;从某种观点来说
参考例句:
  • They sourced the spoke nuts from our company.他们的轮辐螺帽是从我们公司获得的。
  • The spokes of a wheel are the bars that connect the outer ring to the centre.辐条是轮子上连接外圈与中心的条棒。
4 superintendent vsTwV     
n.监督人,主管,总监;(英国)警务长
参考例句:
  • He was soon promoted to the post of superintendent of Foreign Trade.他很快就被擢升为对外贸易总监。
  • He decided to call the superintendent of the building.他决定给楼房管理员打电话。
5 gale Xf3zD     
n.大风,强风,一阵闹声(尤指笑声等)
参考例句:
  • We got our roof blown off in the gale last night.昨夜的大风把我们的房顶给掀掉了。
  • According to the weather forecast,there will be a gale tomorrow.据气象台预报,明天有大风。
6 miraculous DDdxA     
adj.像奇迹一样的,不可思议的
参考例句:
  • The wounded man made a miraculous recovery.伤员奇迹般地痊愈了。
  • They won a miraculous victory over much stronger enemy.他们战胜了远比自己强大的敌人,赢得了非凡的胜利。
7 exhausted 7taz4r     
adj.极其疲惫的,精疲力尽的
参考例句:
  • It was a long haul home and we arrived exhausted.搬运回家的这段路程特别长,到家时我们已筋疲力尽。
  • Jenny was exhausted by the hustle of city life.珍妮被城市生活的忙乱弄得筋疲力尽。
8 ashore tNQyT     
adv.在(向)岸上,上岸
参考例句:
  • The children got ashore before the tide came in.涨潮前,孩子们就上岸了。
  • He laid hold of the rope and pulled the boat ashore.他抓住绳子拉船靠岸。
9 exhaustion OPezL     
n.耗尽枯竭,疲惫,筋疲力尽,竭尽,详尽无遗的论述
参考例句:
  • She slept the sleep of exhaustion.她因疲劳而酣睡。
  • His exhaustion was obvious when he fell asleep standing.他站着睡着了,显然是太累了。
10 discomfort cuvxN     
n.不舒服,不安,难过,困难,不方便
参考例句:
  • One has to bear a little discomfort while travelling.旅行中总要忍受一点不便。
  • She turned red with discomfort when the teacher spoke.老师讲话时她不好意思地红着脸。
11 remarkable 8Vbx6     
adj.显著的,异常的,非凡的,值得注意的
参考例句:
  • She has made remarkable headway in her writing skills.她在写作技巧方面有了长足进步。
  • These cars are remarkable for the quietness of their engines.这些汽车因发动机没有噪音而不同凡响。
12 wrecked ze0zKI     
adj.失事的,遇难的
参考例句:
  • the hulk of a wrecked ship 遇难轮船的残骸
  • the salvage of the wrecked tanker 对失事油轮的打捞
13 severely SiCzmk     
adv.严格地;严厉地;非常恶劣地
参考例句:
  • He was severely criticized and removed from his post.他受到了严厉的批评并且被撤了职。
  • He is severely put down for his careless work.他因工作上的粗心大意而受到了严厉的批评。
14 decided lvqzZd     
adj.决定了的,坚决的;明显的,明确的
参考例句:
  • This gave them a decided advantage over their opponents.这使他们比对手具有明显的优势。
  • There is a decided difference between British and Chinese way of greeting.英国人和中国人打招呼的方式有很明显的区别。
15 contemplating bde65bd99b6b8a706c0f139c0720db21     
深思,细想,仔细考虑( contemplate的现在分词 ); 注视,凝视; 考虑接受(发生某事的可能性); 深思熟虑,沉思,苦思冥想
参考例句:
  • You're too young to be contemplating retirement. 你考虑退休还太年轻。
  • She stood contemplating the painting. 她站在那儿凝视那幅图画。
16 thoroughly sgmz0J     
adv.完全地,彻底地,十足地
参考例句:
  • The soil must be thoroughly turned over before planting.一定要先把土地深翻一遍再下种。
  • The soldiers have been thoroughly instructed in the care of their weapons.士兵们都系统地接受过保护武器的训练。
17 doorway 2s0xK     
n.门口,(喻)入门;门路,途径
参考例句:
  • They huddled in the shop doorway to shelter from the rain.他们挤在商店门口躲雨。
  • Mary suddenly appeared in the doorway.玛丽突然出现在门口。
18 fully Gfuzd     
adv.完全地,全部地,彻底地;充分地
参考例句:
  • The doctor asked me to breathe in,then to breathe out fully.医生让我先吸气,然后全部呼出。
  • They soon became fully integrated into the local community.他们很快就完全融入了当地人的圈子。


欢迎访问英文小说网

©英文小说网 2005-2010

有任何问题,请给我们留言,管理员邮箱:[email protected]  站长QQ :点击发送消息和我们联系56065533