我要讲的是一个英雄故事，关于珍妮·卡里斯特，一个勇敢的女英雄，她住在澳大利亚，在一个叫勒克瑙的金矿，不知怎么的，珍妮受到矿工们的爱戴。珍妮是煤矿老板老太太的独生女——珍妮总是在一个傍晚出现，像一缕阳光，她那明亮的脸和欢快的声音，使那些不幸的挖掘者们的心都高兴起来。她没有骄傲，日复一日，她和她的弟弟走在一起，他总是快乐的，他是一个漂亮的男孩，大约13岁，珍妮和她的弟弟受到矿工们的极大赞扬。老卡里斯特太太是个十足的贵妇人，因为她从来没有向任何一个没有能力支付在金矿自由开采的矿工索要报酬，那是每星期三十镑的报酬，不管结果如何。那是在1871年初，矿工杰克·阿林福德想出了一个计划，他想在矿里用火药把花岗岩的表面弄松，所以他选择了一个他认为最合适的地方。当他的一切安排就绪后，一个有点害怕的矿工把他放了下去，但最幸运的是，珍妮·卡里斯特当时出现了，就在杰克·阿林福德被放下去的时候。然后她问那个在绞车旁的人有没有运气，但他拿起一根蜡烛，然后划了一根火柴;然后珍妮问矿工:那是干什么用的?他回答说，要炸掉我所惧怕、所憎恶的矿。然后，他用一根绳子把蜡烛和火柴放下来，勇敢的珍妮一直在一旁看着。 And as the man continued to turn round the windlass handle, Jenny asked him, Isn't it dangerous to lower the matches and candle? Then the man replied, I hope there's no danger, Jenny, my lass, But whatsoever God has ordained will come to pass; And just as he said so the windlass handle swung round, And struck him on the forehead, and he fell to the ground. And when Jenny saw the blood streaming from the fallen man's head, She rushed to the mouth of the shaft without any dread, And Jenny called loudly, but received no reply, So to her brother standing near by she heaved a deep sigh. Telling him to run for assistance, while she swung herself on to the hand-rope, Resolved to save Jack Allingford's life as she earnestly did hope; And as she proceeded down the shaft at a quick pace, The brave heroine knew that death was staring her in the face. And the rope was burning her hands as she descended, But she thought if she saved Jack her task would be ended; And when she reached the bottom of the mine she did not hesitate, But bounding towards Jack Allingford, who was lying seemingly inanimate. And as she approached his body the hissing fuse burst upon her ears, But still the noble girl no danger fears; While the hissing of the fuse was like an engine grinding upon her brain, Still she resolved to save Jack while life in her body did remain. She noticed a small jet of smoke issuing from a hole near his head, And if he'd lain a few seconds longer there he'd been killed dead, But God had sent an angel to his rescue, For seizing him by the arms his body to the air shaft she drew. It was a supernatural effort, but she succeeded at last, And Jenny thanked God when the danger was past, But at the same instant the silence was broke By a loud explosion, which soon filled the mine with smoke. But, oh, God be thanked! the greatest danger was past, But when Jenny saw Jack Allingford, she stood aghast, Because the blood was issuing from his nest and ears, And as Jenny viewed his wounds she shed many tears. But heroic Jenny was not one of the fainting sort, For immediately to the mouth of the mine she did resort, And she called loudly for help, the noble lass, And her cry was answered by voices above at the windlass. So there were plenty to volunteer their services below, And the rope was attached to the windlass, and down they did go, And Jack Allingford and Jenny were raised to the top, While Jenny, noble soul, with exhaustion was like to drop. And when the miners saw her safe above there was a burst of applause, Because she had rescued Jack Allingford from death's jaws; So all ye that read or hear this story, I have but to say, That Jenny Carrister was the noblest heroine I've ever heard of in my day.