Final answer:
The importance of the first sentence in Crane's story lies in how it serves the narrative, whether it foreshadows the ending, provides a flashback, presents events in order, or introduces a pivotal middle event. Option number 3 is correct.
Step-by-step explanation:
The first sentence of Crane's story sets the stage and is important to the story's structure and engagement. If this sentence foreshadows the ending of the story, the reader is given subtle hints about how the story may conclude, thus creating anticipation and maintaining interest.
If it is a flashback to an earlier time, it provides context or backstory that can influence the reader's understanding of subsequent events. Presenting events in order aids in clarity and follows the traditional narrative structure from the exposition, through the rising action, and climax, and toward the resolution. Lastly, beginning with a pivotal event in the middle of the story might serve as an inciting incident that creates a hook to draw readers in. Therefore, the function of the opening sentence will vary depending on which narrative approach the author chooses to employ.