The Rescue

    A man had fallen between the rails in a subway station. People were all crowding around trying to get him out before the train ran him over. They were all shouting.
    "Give me your hand!" but the man would not reach up. Mulla Nasrudin elbowed his way through the crowd and leaned over the man. "Friend," he asked, "what is your profession?""I am an income tax inspector," gasped¹ the man.
    "In that case," said Nasrudin, "take my hand!"The man immediately grasped the Mulla's hand and was hauled² to safety.
    Nasrudin turned to the amazed by-standers and declared, "Never ask a tax man to *give* you anything, you fools!"

1 gasped   

v.喘气( gasp的过去式和过去分词 )；喘息；倒抽气；很想要

参考例句：

• She gasped at the wonderful view. 如此美景使她惊讶得屏住了呼吸。
• People gasped with admiration at the superb skill of the gymnasts. 体操运动员的高超技艺令人赞叹。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

2 hauled   

拖，拉( haul的过去式和过去分词 )； 运送； 传讯； 强迫（某人）去某处

参考例句：

• The wagons were hauled by horses. 那些货车是马拉的。
• He's been hauled before the court on a charge of dangerous driving. 他因被控危险驾车而被传讯上法庭。