FREE BOOKS

Author's List




PREV.   NEXT  
|<   30   31   32   33   34   35   36   37   38   39   40   41   42   43   44   45   46   47   48   49   50   51   52   53   54  
55   56   57   58   59   60   61   62   63   64   65   66   67   68   69   70   71   72   73   74   75   76   77   78   79   >>   >|  
or less extensive, according to the nature of the ground. In this case there was quite a large pond, formed by the accumulation of the water above the dam. The pond was not very wide, but it extended more than a mile up the stream. The banks were picturesque and beautiful, being overhung with trees in some places, and in others presenting verdant slopes, down to the water's edge. "That's a good pond to go a-fishing in," said Marco. "Yes," said Forester, "and it makes fine skating ground in the winter." Marco and Forester followed the banks of the mill-pond, until they came to the end of the still water; beyond that they saw a rapid running stream, coming down from the mountains. Marco wished to follow this stream up farther, to see what they would come to, and Forester consented. The ground ascended more and more the farther they proceeded, and the view began to be shut in by forests, precipices and mountains. Marco liked clambering over the rocks, and he found a great deal to interest him at every step of the way. He saw several squirrels and one rabbit. He wanted Forester to get him a gun and let him come out into those woods a-gunning. "No," said Forester. "Why not?" asked Marco. "That is dangerous amusement." "Why? Do you think I should get killed with my sun?" asked Marco. "No," replied Forester, "I don't think you would; but you _might_ get killed. The risk would be too great for the benefit." "Why, you told me the other day, that it was a great thing to learn to take risks coolly. If I had a gun I could practice and learn." "Yes," said Forester, "it is well to take risks coolly, when the advantage is sufficient to justify it. For instance, when you crept down upon the pole the other day, to get the reins, you took a great risk, but perhaps you saved the lives of the passengers by it. That was right--but to hazard your life, for the sake of the pleasure of shooting a squirrel, is not wise." Marco had before this time told him about his getting the reins. "I shouldn't think, there was much danger," said Marco. "No," said Forester, "there's very little danger. In using a gun, you put yourself in a very little danger of a very great calamity. There's very little probability that your gun would burst, or that you would ever shoot accidentally any other person;--very little indeed. But if the gun were to burst, and blow off one of your arms, or put out your eyes, or if you were to shoot ano
PREV.   NEXT  
|<   30   31   32   33   34   35   36   37   38   39   40   41   42   43   44   45   46   47   48   49   50   51   52   53   54  
55   56   57   58   59   60   61   62   63   64   65   66   67   68   69   70   71   72   73   74   75   76   77   78   79   >>   >|  



Top keywords:

Forester

 

danger

 

stream

 

ground

 
farther
 

mountains

 

coolly

 

killed

 

practice

 

benefit


replied
 

advantage

 
pleasure
 
calamity
 

probability

 

shouldn

 
accidentally
 

person

 
justify
 
instance

passengers

 

squirrel

 

shooting

 

hazard

 
sufficient
 
interest
 

slopes

 

verdant

 

presenting

 

places


fishing

 
skating
 

winter

 

overhung

 

formed

 
nature
 

extensive

 

accumulation

 
picturesque
 

beautiful


extended

 

squirrels

 

rabbit

 
gunning
 

dangerous

 

amusement

 

wanted

 

follow

 

wished

 

running