(原版)澳大利亞語文第六冊(cè) LESSON 24

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LESSON 24 A QUICK RACE

A QUICK RACE

When I was a boy at school, we were getting up some sports, which had not then become so common as they are now. It seemed very unlikely that I should gain a prize, for I was rather weak at jumping, whilst at running I usually felt tired out after a sharp spin of two hundred yards.

There was but one chance of getting a prize. One was offered for a three-legged race, and my friend Scott proposed that he and I should enter for it. Neither of us was going to try for any other prize, so we made up our mind to give all our spare time to practising this race.

We thought it best, however, that we should keep this a secret. The various couples who entered for the prize looked upon the race as a big joke, and spent their time, when they practised it, in laughing at each other. We did not. Fun was all very well in its way, but when a new cricket-bat was at stake [1] it behoved [2] us to be serious.

So we practised constantly, and as far from the school as possible. There was a meadow known as the "Mill Meadow" which suited our purpose nicely. It was bounded by the mill stream on one side and by a wood on the other. As this wood lay between the meadow and the road, there was a very small chance of our being observed in this spot.

At the end of the week, we had overcome, to a great extent, the awkwardness of running without free play for our legs. We, little by little, drew the knots tighter and tighter, till at last we ran with our legs properly fastened.

We had better have a good spin today, said Scott one Thursday afternoon. "I cannot come tomorrow."

Very well; let us go round the meadow without stopping, returned I.

No, replied Scott, "we had much better go straight on as hard as we can go. The course we have to run over is only one hundred and fifty yards long, you know."

Come on, then, said I, putting my arm on his shoulder. We started well and ran the length of the field in good time. After a short rest, we started to go back. I think I was the first to hear the sound of galloping behind us.

I glanced round. About a hundred yards off, or rather more, was a bull making for us at a heavy but quick gallop.

I gave a cry, and Scott turned round to see what was the matter. This action interfered with [3] our progress [4] , and we both came to the ground.

For a moment this seemed to crown [5] our misfortune, but it did not do so. In our fall the fastening at our knees became loosened, and a strong pull took it off.

The handkerchief round our ankles was still tied in a knot, and time would not allow us to unloose it.

We scrambled to our feet quicker than ever we had done before, but the three or four seconds delay had given the bull time to lessen the distance very much. Still the breadth of the field was not great, and could we but gain the water we might hope to escape.

Quickly we flew over the ground that lay between us and the water. If we had been racing for a prize, we should have won it, most certainly. But nearer and nearer came the footsteps of the bull, and greater became our fright as we heard his enraged bellowing. We reached the water's edge a little ahead of the bull.

Both of us could swim well. Even had we never been in the water in our lives, I doubt if we should have hesitated to jump into it, rather than face the danger on shore.

I never felt a stranger feeling in my life than I did when I rose to the surface. We were used to running with our legs tied together, but swimming tied to another fellow is a different thing.

I thought my leg was coming off as Scott and I kicked in opposite directions. The bull had stopped on seeing us go out of sight, so we had nothing further to fear from him. It now seemed more likely that we should be drowned rather than gored, for while we were unable to keep still, every kick pulled one of us under.

However, we struggled to the bank, and, half-choked, pulled ourselves up by the grass and rushes.

We did not catch cold, and were in very good condition on the day of the race, when we reaped the reward of our practice, and won the prize easily.

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[1] was at stake: Hung in the balance; was to be gained.

[2] behoved: Was necessary for.

[3] interfered with: Stopped; hindered.

[4] progress: Advancement.

[5] crown: Complete.