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.
"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.
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收听单词发音
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1
whacked
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| a.精疲力尽的 | |
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cane
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| n.手杖，细长的茎，藤条；v.以杖击，以藤编制的 | |
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spoke
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| 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 | |
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superintendent
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| n.监督人，主管，总监；(英国)警务长 | |
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gale
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| n.大风，强风，一阵闹声（尤指笑声等） | |
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miraculous
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| adj.像奇迹一样的，不可思议的 | |
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7
exhausted
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| adj.极其疲惫的，精疲力尽的 | |
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ashore
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| adv.在(向)岸上，上岸 | |
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exhaustion
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| n.耗尽枯竭，疲惫，筋疲力尽，竭尽，详尽无遗的论述 | |
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discomfort
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| n.不舒服，不安，难过，困难，不方便 | |
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remarkable
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| adj.显著的，异常的，非凡的，值得注意的 | |
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wrecked
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| adj.失事的，遇难的 | |
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13
severely
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| adv.严格地；严厉地；非常恶劣地 | |
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14
decided
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| adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的 | |
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15
contemplating
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| 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 | |
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16
thoroughly
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| adv.完全地，彻底地，十足地 | |
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17
doorway
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| n.门口，(喻)入门；门路，途径 | |
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fully
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| adv.完全地，全部地，彻底地；充分地 | |
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