His Big Opportunity | Page 5

said Miss Bertram.
"Rather," came from Roy's lips, and then without another word he ran
out of the room.
"Do you like it, David?" Miss Bertram asked, touching Dudley lightly

on the shoulder.
"No--I--don't--it makes a fellow in a blue funk." And two fists were
hastily brushed across the eyes.
"Shall I sing you something more cheerful?"
"No, thanks, not to-night, I think I'll go to Roy."
And Dudley, too, made his exit, leaving his aunt touched and amused at
the effect of the song.
An hour after the rain had ceased, and the sun was shining out. Down
the village street walked the two boys enjoying their freedom more
soberly than was their wont.
"We must, we must, we must be heroes, Dudley!"
"Yes, if we get a chance."
"But why shouldn't we have it as well as those two boys. I wonder
sometimes what God meant us to do when He made us! And I'm not
going to be in the dumps because I'm not very strong. For look at
Nelson: old Selby told us he was always very seedy and shaky, always
ill; and not being big in body doesn't matter, for Nelson was a little man
and so was Napoleon, and lots of the great men have been short and
stumpy and hideous! I mean to do something before I die, if only an
opportunity will come! Do you remember the story of the little chap in
Holland, who put his hand in the hole in the sand bank, and kept the
whole ocean from coming in and washing away hundreds of towns and
villages? If I could only do a thing like that, something that would do
good to millions of people; something that would be worth living for! If
I could save somebody's life from fire, or drowning, or some kind of
danger! Don't you long for something of that sort, eh?"
"I don't know that I do," was the slow response; "but I should like you
to get a chance of it if you want it so much."

"Oh, wasn't it splendid of those two little chaps--a whole regiment!
And only those two who didn't run away! I think I could stand fire like
that, couldn't you?"
"I would with you."
"But I don't expect I'll ever go into the army." This in sorrowful tones.
"Why not?"
"Oh, they'd never have me. I'm too thin round the chest; nurse says I'm
like a bag of bones, and I wouldn't make a smart soldier. Now you'd be
a splendid one, no one could be ashamed of you."
"Well, I won't go without you."
"But I'll do something worth living for," repeated Roy, tossing up his
head and giving a stamp as he spoke; "and I'll seize the first opportunity
that comes."
Dudley was silent. They had now reached the low stone bridge over the
river, a favorite resort amongst all the village boys for fishing; and
quite a little group of them were collected there. Roy and Dudley were
welcomed eagerly as though perhaps at times they were inclined to
assume patronizing and masterful airs; yet their extreme generosity and
love for all country sport made them general favorites with the
villagers.
Roy was soon in the midst of an eager discussion about the best bait for
trout; and was presently startled by a heavy splash over the bridge.
Looking up, to his amazement, he saw Dudley struggling in the water.
"Help, Roy, I'm drowning!"
Both boys were capital swimmers, but Roy saw that Dudley seemed
incapable of keeping himself up, and in one second he threw off his
jacket, and dived head foremost off the bridge to the rescue. The
current of the river was strong here, for a mill wheel was only a short

distance off; and it was hard work to swim safely ashore. Roy
accomplished it successfully amidst the cheers of the admiring group
on the bridge; and when once on dry ground again, neither of the boys
seemed the worse for the wetting. In the hubbub that ensued Dubley
was not questioned as to the cause of the accident; but it appeared that
his feet had got entangled in some string and netting that one of the
boys had brought with him to the bridge, and it was this that had
prevented him from swimming.
"It's awfully nice that I had the chance of helping you," said Roy, as the
two boys were running home as fast as they could to change their wet
clothes; "I didn't hurt you in the water, did I? I believe I gave a pretty
good tug to your hair, I was awfully glad you hadn't had your hair cut
lately."
"You've saved my life," said Dudley, staring at Roy with a peculiar
gravity; "if you hadn't