The Miracle of Lava Canyon by O'Henry

Introduction

O'Henry is well-known American writer of short stories. His stories have a characteristic twist in the tail. They have a surprise ending. He was born in 1862. His actual name was William Sidney Porter. He wrote a large number of stories, all of which are popular the world over.

This story is about two young people. Radcliff Conrad is the Sheriff of Sirkiwah County and Miss Boadicea Reed is 20-year old young attractive girl - Rad is known to be the coolest and most courageous young man. But in reality he is a coward at heart. He has to brace himself every time he has to deal with a critical situation that demands courage. But he has been lucky. He has maintained his reputation. But a chance has presented itself when Rad is afraid that his true nature is going to be exposed.

Miss Boadicea is a fearless woman. But it is a secret known only to her close friends. Chance brings Rad and Boadicea close. Their souls pass into each other's. Rad gains true courage. His fear vanishes and he overpowers a criminal armed with a knife. Boadicea who has never felt love for any man, loses her heart to Rad. Her great courage leaves her. Rad's soul enters into her. She is scared even to look at a lizard. The miracle is complete. Rad's and Boadicea's souls swap their places.

Summary

Radcliff Conrad was the Sheriff of Siskiwah county, Ari. He was known to be the most fearless and coolest person all around. But he was a coward at heart. It was a secret known to no one. Every time he had to deal with danger his heart beat fast. He could not stand the sight of bloodshed. Everytime he had to overpower his fear lest the people should know the reality. He had been lucky. He had dealt with many situations demanding courage, and he had come out successful. People admired him for his infinite courage and valour. But Rad had the apprehension that some day the truth would be out and everyone would know him to be a coward.

One day there was a critical situation. Arizona Dan was the worst criminal known in the county. He broke mirrors and glasses worth thousands of dollars in a place of entertainment. He had injured several persons also. He had hidden himself in bushes. People had complained to Rad who was the sheriff. He realised his duty. He wanted to arrest Dan single handed. He asked some men how Dan was armed. They told him that he had left his guns behind. Obviously he was unarmed. To keep up his reputation, and in a foolhardy display of his courage, Rad unbuckled his revolver and left it behind. He went in search of Dan to take on him unarmed. People praised him for this courage. But they were not surprised because Rad was known to be like that.

Dan was too drunk to know any fear. He was hiding in the bushes near the gulch. He was waiting for the nightfall so that he could escape in the dark. Miss Boadicea Reed was the eldest daughter of the postmaster. Her younger sisters were at school. She sat carelessly in a grapevine swing. She was attractive. She was wearing starched muslin clothes. She had a secret which was known only to her close friends. She was afraid of no living or non-living thing. She had no feminine weakness. There had been proposals of marriage but she had not been inclined to marry. Till she was eighteen she had an ambition to dress herself like a man and go around the world selling soaps or jewellery. But at twenty, she had given up that ambition. She wished to be the leading woman singer in an opera troupe.

Swinging in the grapevine, she happened to see a man's eye behind the thick clump of bushes. It was excessively red because of over drunkenness. Involuntarily she smoothed the knot of her hair and thrust the hairpins more securely. She asked the man to come out of his hiding. He was Dan.

Dan told her that she should keep quiet. He tried to assure her that he was not going to harm her. But Boadicea was not afraid. She asked him why he was hiding there. He told her that he was waiting for the nightfall. Then he would go away. He told her what he had done. He suspected that Rad, the Sheriff, might come to arrest him.

Just then Rad came there. He was a handsome young man with blond hair and steel grey eyes. He was strong and graceful. Boadicea looked at him and loved him at first sight. Rad came very close to Dan and told him to surrender. But Dan drew a nine-inch knife and challenged Rad.

Rad was indeed a coward at heart. A deadly physical fear came upon him. He was panicked. His feet were frozen. A branch to his right rustled and he gave a flitting glance. Boadicea's dark eyes were fixed on him. They seemed to flash some exalting essence into his veins. The heavy burden of fear left his heart. He was filled with prudent courage and confidence as if Boadicea's fearless soul had entered into him. Half the miracle was accomplished. The other half was to follow.

Now Rad knew no fear. He laughed with joy. He once again asked Dan to surrender. But Dan flashed his knife. Rad moved a few inches closer cautiously. It appears that drunkenness had unstrung Dan's nerves. By chance small stone was dislodged by Boadicea's foot, and it rattled down the pat Dan was unnerved, and turned his head to look what it was. This gave Rad an advantage. He pounced on Dan. He held Dan's wrist in a steal-lit grip and put his other arm round his waist. Dan struggled but Rad twisted the wrist relentlessly till Dan dropped the knife. Then Rad put his arm round Dan's throat. They struggled and fell down. Dan's head hit a boulder and he lay unconscious. Rad bound him hand and foot.

Boadicea leapt down from her seat through the bushes. She admired Rad. Her tongue faltered. Her cheeks flushed and her eyes were lowers for the first time in her life.

Rad said it was getting dark. He offered to lead her to her house. As they were walking Boadicea, who had never known fear, was scared look at a harmless lizard. She gave out a shriek. She had been fearless by far, but now Rad's spirit had entered her. She became a coward. Rad put his protective arm around her. Rad's and Boadicea's souls had exchange their places. The miracle was complete.

Word Meanings

Turned sick = was nauseated; Strife = struggle; Carnage = bloodshed Nervous dread = fearfully excited; High-spirited = energetic, vigorous Presage = indication of something to come; High-strung = nervous, tens Subordinate = control; Eagerness = keenness; Phase = stage development; aspect; Plodding = walking; Dash = vigour; Audacity boldness; Hazards = dangers; Conception = idea; Aghast = stupefied horrified; Sullen of aspect = looking sad or morose; Trailed = chase Desperate = reckless; Combat = fight; Rendezvous = haunt; Relentless = pitiless; Desperadoes = criminals, lawless people; Flinch = recoil Saloons = taverns or bars; Intrepidity = fearlessness; Recklessness unconsciousness, headlessness to danger; Blond = light golden brown hair; Classic mold = first rate artistic shape; Deliberation = consideration without haste; Impulse = sudden inclination to act; Giving away = yielding Stripped = naked, exposed; Monkish ascetic = hermit who practises severe self discipline; Scourged = cleaned, wiped out, lashed; Fleshly sensual; Egregious = outrageous, extreme; Triumphing over = overcoming, controlling; Gulch = ravine; Tangled = matted; Wilderness wasteland, uninhabited place ; Converged = meeting at a point fro different directions; Fissure = crevice, long narrow crack; Cleaving splitting; Extent = expanse, area; Boulders = large rocks or stone Hardware = uronmongry; Cutlery = knives, forks and other implement Ammunition = gun powder etc.; Juvenile = youngster; Confines boundaries; Introducing = pushing, inserting; Sundry = several; Slugs of lead = bullets, lead shots; Anguish = pain; Degenerate = degraded, depraved; Survival of the fittest = only the fittest will live; Posse = body of men, a small party of police men; Retreat = go back; Fugitive = runaway; Iconoclasm = criticism; Unbuckled criticism = loosened, untied; Shoved = pushed; Flecks = specks; inharmonious = discordant; Desecrating = violating the sanctity; Legendary = famous: Overworked - working hard and long; Casual = immethodical; Sylvan = consisting of woods and forests; Cavil = find fault; Perceptions = ideas; Negligently = carelessly; Unsylph-like = not like a beautiful woman; Diminutive = shortened form; Arbitrary = not bound by rules; Muslin = fine cotton cloth; Crackled = made slight sharp noises; Faltered = not in harmony; Melpomene = mythological songstress, muse of tragedy; Divulged = gave out; Imparted = told; Denominated = named; Abashment - Shyness; Prejudice = bias; Overturning = overthrowing, destroying; Awe = dread mingled with reverence; Suitors = wooers, loners; Pitched = threw; Qualm = remorse; Tremor = sensation; Vermin = insects and rodents; Insignificant = of no importance; Cherished = fostered, treasured; Toned down = mellowed; Prima Donna = leading female singer; Troupe = band of performers; Warblings = singing; Melodiousness = sweetness; Form = body; Battery = fortified, structure; Impetuous = full of rashness, vigour; Volition = exercise of the will, voluntary action; Shuffled = moved without lifting feet; Contemptuously = with derision; Spree = drinking bout; Lumbering = made with efforts, heavy moving; Diggings = places where people dig for tin etc.; Parlance = way of speaking; infinite = limitless; Disdain = scorn, contempt; Broke off = stopped short; Bowie knife = long knife used as a weapon; ; Grin = broad smile; Nauseating = sickening, disgusting; Desperado = lawless person, criminal; Puissance = power; Ground out = grow; Apprehension = fear; Derisive = contemptuous; Mockery = ridicule; Polt roonry = cowardice; All-pervading = present everywhere; Exalting = lofty, raising higher; Ledge = narrow shelf sticking out of a cliff; Foil = blunt sword; Crouched = bent low; Valour = bravery; Spurious = sham, not genuine; Fortuitous = happening by chance; incomprehensible = that cannot be understood; Indomitable = unyielding; intent = purpose; Prudence = discretion, wisdom and carefulness; Debauch = sensual indulgence; Dislodged = removed, displaced; Bestowed = granted, gave; Twisting = wringing, turning and turning; Tendons = sinew attaching muscles to bore; Clamps = tools for holding something tightly; Displacement = moving away; Oblivious = unaware; Vanquished = defeated; Ignominiously = dishonourably; dandy = beautiful; Tripped = skipped, stammered; Faltered = wavered; Frisked = moved quickly; Hickory = nut bearing tree; Horrid = ugly, frightening.

Questions You May Be Asked

1. O'Henry is known for the use of a 'twist in the tail' at the end of most of his stories. Do you think this holds true in this case? Answer in detail with reference from the text.

2. Justify the title of the story.

3. What aspects of human nature does the story explore. Support answers with reference from the text.