Ponderomotive-force driven acceleration of an electron at the focus of a high-intensity short-pulse laser is considered using a model that the electrons accelerated are near the focus but decelerated far away the focus. For intensities above 1019Wμm2/cm2, the electron's energy gain in the range of MeV can be realized when the electron leaves the laser pulse. Final energy gain of the electron as a function of its initial position has also been discussed. We find that an electron initially near the focus can be accelerated well.