Трое в лодке не считая собаки

           Welookedatthepictureonthetin; wethoughtofthejuice. Wesmiledatoneanother,andHarrisgotaspoonready. 

           Thenwelookedfortheknifetoopenthetinwith. Weturnedouteverythinginthehamper. Weturnedoutthebags. Wepulleduptheboardsatthebottomoftheboat. Wetookeverythingoutontothebankandshookit. Therewasnotin-openertobefound. 

           ThenHarristriedtoopenthetinwithapocket-knife,andbroketheknifeandcuthimselfbadly;andGeorgetriedapairofscissors,andthescissorsflewup,andnearlyputhiseyeout. Whiletheyweredressingtheirwounds,Itriedtomakeaholeinthethingwiththespikyendofthehitcher,andthehitcherslippedandjerkedmeoutbetweentheboatandthebankintotwofeetofmuddywater,andthetinrolledover,uninjured,andbrokeateacup. 

           Thenweallgotmad. Wetookthattinoutonthebank,andHarriswentupintoafieldandgotabigsharpstone,andIwentbackintotheboatandbroughtoutthemast,andGeorgeheldthetinandHarrisheldthesharpendofhisstoneagainstthetopofit,andItookthemastandpoisedithighupintheair,andgatheredupallmystrengthandbroughtitdown. 

           ItwasGeorge’sstrawhatthatsavedhislifethatday. Hekeepsthathatnow(whatisleftofit),and,ofawinter’sevening,whenthepipesarelitandtheboysaretellingstretchersaboutthedangerstheyhavepassedthrough,Georgebringsitdownandshowsitround,andthestirringtaleistoldanew,withfreshexaggerationseverytime.