Трое в лодке не считая собаки

           Harrisgotoffwithmerelyafleshwound. 

           Afterthat,Itookthetinoffmyself,andhammeredatitwiththemasttillIwaswornoutandsickatheart,whereuponHarristookitinhand. 

           Webeatitoutflat;webeatitbacksquare;webattereditintoeveryformknowntogeometry—butwecouldnotmakeaholeinit. ThenGeorgewentatit,andknockeditintoashape,sostrange,soweird,sounearthlyinitswildhideousness,thathegotfrightenedandthrewawaythemast. Thenweallthreesatrounditonthegrassandlookedatit. 

           Therewasonegreatdentacrossthetopthathadtheappearanceofamockinggrin,anditdroveusfurious,sothatHarrisrushedatthething,andcaughtitup,andflungitfarintothemiddleoftheriver,andasitsankwehurledourcursesatit,andwegotintotheboatandrowedawayfromthespot,andneverpausedtillwereachedMaidenhead. 

           Maidenheaditselfistoosnobbytobepleasant. Itisthehauntoftheriverswellandhisoverdressedfemalecompanion. Itisthetownofshowyhotels,patronisedchieflybydudesandballetgirls. Itisthewitch’skitchenfromwhichgoforththosedemonsoftheriver—steam-launches. TheLondonJournaldukealwayshashis"littleplace"atMaidenhead;andtheheroineofthethree-volumenovelalwaysdinestherewhenshegoesoutonthespreewithsomebodyelse’shusband. 

           WewentthroughMaidenheadquickly,andtheneasedup,andtookleisurelythatgrandreachbeyondBoulter’sandCookhamlocks.