Lesson 4 Little Robert, the Trapper

One morning while the pitmen were at work in a coal mine, they heard a noise louder than thunder. In a moment every lamp was out, and men and boys threw down their tools and ran.

It is Tuesday morning. The men reach the bottom of the shaft[1], and count their number. Five are missing, four men and one little trapper[2], Robert Lester. People above hear the noise, and rush to the pit’s mouth. The workmen are taken up. O the agony of the wives and mothers of those who are left behind!

Brave men go back to their rescue. They light their lamps and reach the crush.There is nothing but a heap of ruins. They shout, but there is no answer. Up go pickaxes and shovels, to clear the way. It is great labour, and it involves great risk. Men flock[3]from all quarters to offer their services. How they work!

Towards night they hear something. It is not a voice, but a tapping. It can just be heard. Clink, clink, clink, clink, clink! Five times, and then it stopped. Clink, clink, five times again, and then it stopped. Five more, and then a stop.

What does it mean? One man guessed. There were five missing, and the five clinks showed that all the five were alive, waiting for deliverance. A shout of joy went up in and above the pit.

How does it fare with the poor prisoners? They were frightened like the rest by that sudden and awful noise. Little Robert left his door and ran to the men, who well knew what it meant. Waiting till everything was quiet, they went forward to examine the passage-way Robert had left. It was blocked up. Oh, fearful thought—they were buried alive!

The men went back to the boy. “I want to go home; please, do let me go home,”said little Robert. “Yes, yes, as soon as we find a way out, my little man,” said Truman,in a kind yet husky voice. The air grew close and suffocating[4], and they took their oil-cans and hoof-bags to one of the galleries where it was better.

Truman and Logan, two of the buried hewers, were religious men. “Well, James,what shall we do next?” asked Truman. “There is but one thing we can do,” said Logan.“God says, ‘Call upon me in the day of trouble; I will deliver thee.’”

They all knelt down. Poor little Robert cried bitterly. But as the pitmen prayed, —first the one and then the other, —their hearts grew lighter, and even the little trapper dried his tears.

They then got their pickaxes; but what a hopeless task it seemed, to cut through that terrible mass of earth and stones to daylight! Their hearts beat with hope and joy when they first heard the sound of their friends working on the other side. It was then that they made the clink, clink with their pickaxes, which was heard by their deliverers,and so much encouraged them in their work.

Wednesday, Thursday, Friday passed, and no rescue. What dark and dreadful days!Worse than all, the sounds beyond did not appear to draw nearer. At last Saturday came.Five days had passed; and the men outside knew that there was not an instant[5] to lose.They were too anxious even to speak. It was only work, work, work, for dear life. For hours they had heard no signals. Were their poor comrades[6] dead?

Suddenly the wall was pierced; a hole was made through it; feeble[7] voices were heard.

“Truman, are you there?” “Yes, all here.”

“All living?” “Yes, thank God, all living.”

“All living! All living!” shouted the men; and the shout went up to the mouth of the pit. When Robert’s father heard that his son was alive, the good news was too much for him, and he fell down senseless.

One hour more and the rescuers reached their comrades. Who can describe the meeting; or the joy and gratitude of wives, mothers, and friends, as one and another were brought up to the light? Here comes Mr. Lester with Robert in his arms! What a huzza went the air as they came in sight. “Safe! Safe! God be praised!”

(731 words)

Exercises

Ⅰ. How well did you read?

1. Who is Robert Lester in this story?

A. He is the son of a workman at the coal mine.

B. He is a trapper who was with the workmen when the accident took place.

C. He is one of the people who rescued the workmen buried in the coal mine.

2. When were the 5 people found missing?

A. When the other workmen got out of the coal mine.

B. When the other workmen went back home.

C. The day after the accident happened.

3. What noise did the rescuers hear towards night?

A. They heard nothing.

B. They heard someone shouting from underground.

C. They heard someone hitting the ground lightly.

4. What can we learn about Truman and Logan from the story?

A. They were very brave.

B. They believed in God.

C. They found a way to get out of the pit.

5. When were they rescued?

A. On Thursday. B. On Friday. C. On Saturday.

6. When did Robert’s father do when he saw him?

A. He fell down senseless.

B. He went up to Robert and kissed him.

C. He held Robert in his arms.

Ⅱ. Read for words.

1. The air grew close and suffocating, and they took their oil-cans and hoof-bags to one of the galleries where it was better. (Para. 7, Line 4)

A. 画廊 B. 通风口 C. 坑道

2. Suddenly the wall was pierced; a hole was made through it; feeble voices were heard. (Para. 12, Line 1)

A. take down and break something

B. make a hole through something

C. take away part of something

3. It was blocked up. (Para. 6, Line 4)

A. remove something and let in

B. change the shape and direction of something

C. put an object so that nothing can get through

4. “God says, ‘Call upon me in the day of trouble; I will deliver thee.’” (Para. 8,Line 3)

A. pay a visit to someone

B. ask someone to do something publicly

C. mention someone’s name

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