The cars swept on at the rate of twenty miles an hour, the engineer wholly unconscious of the peril1 in front. Robert saw the fated train with its freight of human lives, and his heart grew sick within him as he thought of the terrible tragedy which was about to be enacted2. Was there any possibility of his averting3 it? He threw himself against the rock and pushed with all the strength he could command. But, nerved as he was by desperation, he found the task greater than he could compass.
And still the train came thundering on. He must withdraw to a place of safety, or he would himself be involved in the destruction which threatened the train.
There was one thing more he could do, and he did it.
He took his station on the rock which was just in the path of the advancing train, and waved his handkerchief frantically5. It was a position to test the courage of the bravest.
Robert was fully6 aware that he was exposing himself to a horrible death. Should he not be seen by the engineer it would be doubtful whether he could get out of the way in time to escape death—and that of the most frightful7 nature. But unless he did something a hundred lives perhaps might be lost. So he resolutely9 took his stand, waving, as we have said, his handkerchief and shouting, though the last was not likely to be of any avail.
At first he was not seen. When the engineer at last caught sight of him it was with a feeling of anger at what he regarded as the foolhardiness of the boy. He slackened his speed, thinking he would leave his place, but Robert still maintained his position, his nerves strung to their highest tension, not alone at his own danger, but at the peril which he began to fear he could not avert4.
Reluctantly the engineer gave the signal to stop the train. He was only just in time. When it came to a stop there was an interval10 of only thirty-five feet between it and Robert Rushton, who, now that he had accomplished11 his object, withdrew to one side, a little paler than usual, but resolute8 and manly12 in his bearing.
"What is the meaning of this foolery?" the engineer demanded, angrily.
"How came that rock there?" asked the engineer, in a startled tone, as he took in the extent of the peril from which they had been saved.
"I don't know," said Robert. "I tried to move it, but I couldn't."
"You are a brave boy," said the engineer. "You have in all probability saved the train from destruction. But you ran a narrow risk yourself."
"I know it," was the reply; "but it was the only thing I could do to catch your attention."
"I will speak to you about it again. The first to be done is to move the rock."
He left the engine and advanced toward the rock. By this time many of the passengers had got out, and were inquiring why the train was stopped at this point. The sight of the rock made a sensation. Though the peril was over, the thought that the train might have been precipitated14 down the embankment, and the majority of the passengers killed or seriously injured, impressed them not a little. They pressed forward, and several lending a hand, the rock was ousted15 from its its position, and rolled crashing over the bank.
Among the passengers was a stout16, good-looking man, a New York merchant. He had a large family at home waiting his return from a Western journey. He shuddered17 as he thought how near he had been to never meeting them again on earth.
"It was providential, your seeing the rock," he said to the engineer. "We owe our lives to you."
"You do me more than justice," replied the engineer. "It was not I who saved the train, but that boy."
All eyes were turned upon Robert, who, unused to being the center of so many glances, blushed and seemed disposed to withdraw.
"How is that?" inquired the merchant.
"He saw the obstruction18, and tried to remove it, but, not being able to do so, took his station on the rock, and, at the risk of his own life, drew my attention, and saved the train."
"It was a noble act, my boy; what is your name?"
"Robert Rushton."
"It is a name that we shall all have cause to remember. Gentlemen," continued the merchant, turning to the group around him, "you see before you the preserver of your lives. Shall his act go unrewarded?"
"No, no!" was the general exclamation19.
"I don't want any reward," said Robert, modestly. "Any boy would have done as much."
"I don't know about that, my young friend. There are not many boys, or men, I think, that would have had the courage to act as you did. You may not ask or want any reward, but we should be forever disgraced if we failed to acknowledge our great indebtedness to you. I contribute one hundred dollars as my share of the testimonial to our young friend."
"I follow with fifty!" said his next neighbor, "and shall ask for the privilege of taking him by the hand."
Robert had won honors at school, but he had never before been in a position so trying to his modesty20. The passengers, following the example of the last speaker, crowded around him, and took him by the hand, expressing their individual acknowledgments for the service he had rendered them. Our hero, whom we now designate thus appropriately, bore the ordeal21 with a self-possession which won the favor of all.
While this was going on, the collection was rapidly being made by the merchant who had proposed it. The amounts contributed varied22 widely, but no one refused to give. In ten minutes the fund had reached over six hundred dollars.
"Master Robert Rushton," said the merchant, "I have great pleasure in handing you this money, freely contributed by the passengers on this train, as a slight acknowledgment of the great service which you have rendered them at the risk of your own life. It does not often fall to the lot of a boy to perform a deed so heroic. We are all your debtors23, and if the time ever comes that you need a friend, I for one shall be glad to show my sense of indebtedness."
"All aboard!" shouted the conductor.
The passengers hurried into the cars, leaving our hero standing24 by the track, with one hand full of bank notes and in the other the card of the New York merchant. It was only about fifteen minutes since Robert had first signaled the train, yet how in this brief time had his fortunes changed! From the cars now rapidly receding25 he looked to the roll of bills, and he could hardly realize that all this money was his own. He sat down and counted it over.
"Six hundred and thirty-five dollars!" he exclaimed. "I must have made a mistake."
He was so occupied with the thoughts of his wonderful good fortune that he nearly forgot to take the berries which he had picked.
"I shan't need to sell them now," he said. "We'll use a part of them ourselves, and what we can't use I will give away."
He carefully stored away the money in his coat pocket, and for the sake of security buttoned it tight. It was a new thing for him to be the custodian28 of so much treasure. As Halbert Davis usually spent the latter part of the afternoon in promenading29 the streets, sporting his kids and swinging his jaunty30 cane31, it was not surprising that Robert encountered him again.
"So, you've been berrying again?" he said, stopping short.
"You haven't got the boat repaired, I suppose."
"Not yet."
"It's lucky for you this is berrying season."
"Why?"
"Because you'd probably have to go to the poorhouse," said Halbert, insolently33.
"I don't know about that," said Robert, coolly. "I rather think I could buy you out, Halbert Davis, watch, gloves, cane and all."
"What do you mean?" demanded Halbert, haughtily34. "You seem to forget that you are a beggar, or next to it."
Robert set down his pails, and, opening his coat, drew out a handful of bills.
"Does that look like going to the almshouse?" he said.
"They're not yours," returned Halbert, considerably35 astonished, for, though he did not know the denomination36 of the bills, it was evident that there was a considerable amount of money.
"It belongs to me, every dollar of it," returned Robert.
"It makes no difference to you where I got it," said our hero, returning the money to his pocket. "I shan't go to the almshouse till this I is all gone."
"He must have stolen it," muttered Halbert, looking after Robert with disappointment and chagrin38. It was certainly very vexatious that, in spite of all his attempts to humble39 and ruin our hero, he seemed more prosperous than ever.
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1
peril
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| n.(严重的)危险；危险的事物 | |
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enacted
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| 制定（法律），通过（法案）( enact的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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averting
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| 防止，避免( avert的现在分词 )； 转移 | |
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avert
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| v.防止，避免；转移(目光、注意力等) | |
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frantically
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| ad.发狂地, 发疯地 | |
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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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7
frightful
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| adj.可怕的；讨厌的 | |
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8
resolute
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| adj.坚决的，果敢的 | |
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resolutely
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| adj.坚决地，果断地 | |
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interval
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| n.间隔，间距；幕间休息，中场休息 | |
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accomplished
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| adj.有才艺的；有造诣的；达到了的 | |
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manly
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| adj.有男子气概的；adv.男子般地，果断地 | |
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pointed
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| adj.尖的，直截了当的 | |
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precipitated
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| v.（突如其来地）使发生( precipitate的过去式和过去分词 )；促成；猛然摔下；使沉淀 | |
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15
ousted
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| 驱逐( oust的过去式和过去分词 )； 革职； 罢黜； 剥夺 | |
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17
shuddered
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| v.战栗( shudder的过去式和过去分词 )；发抖；（机器、车辆等）突然震动；颤动 | |
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18
obstruction
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| n.阻塞，堵塞；障碍物 | |
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exclamation
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| n.感叹号，惊呼，惊叹词 | |
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modesty
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| n.谦逊，虚心，端庄，稳重，羞怯，朴素 | |
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ordeal
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| n.苦难经历，（尤指对品格、耐力的）严峻考验 | |
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varied
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| adj.多样的，多变化的 | |
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debtors
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| n.债务人，借方( debtor的名词复数 ) | |
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standing
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| n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的 | |
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receding
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| v.逐渐远离( recede的现在分词 )；向后倾斜；自原处后退或避开别人的注视；尤指问题 | |
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precisely
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| adv.恰好，正好，精确地，细致地 | |
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joyfully
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| adv. 喜悦地, 高兴地 | |
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custodian
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| n.保管人，监护人；公共建筑看守 | |
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promenading
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| v.兜风( promenade的现在分词 ) | |
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30
jaunty
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| adj．愉快的，满足的；adv.心满意足地，洋洋得意地；n.心满意足；洋洋得意 | |
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31
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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32
briefly
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| adv.简单地，简短地 | |
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insolently
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| adv.自豪地，自傲地 | |
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haughtily
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| adv. 傲慢地, 高傲地 | |
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35
considerably
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| adv.极大地；相当大地；在很大程度上 | |
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36
denomination
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| n.命名，取名，(度量衡、货币等的)单位 | |
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37
sneer
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| v.轻蔑；嘲笑；n.嘲笑，讥讽的言语 | |
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38
chagrin
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| n.懊恼；气愤；委屈 | |
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39
humble
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| adj.谦卑的，恭顺的；地位低下的；v.降低，贬低 | |
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