Трое в лодке не считая собаки

           Ifhebeofastoutandshort-windedbuild,youcaneasilyavoidhisadvances;but,whenheisoftheyouthfulandlong-leggedtype,ameetingisinevitable. Theinterviewis,however,extremelybrief,mostoftheconversationbeingonhispart,yourremarksbeingmostlyofanexclamatoryandmono-syllabicorder,andassoonasyoucantearyourselfawayyoudoso. 

           Idevotedsomethreemonthstorafting,and,beingthenasproficientastherewasanyneedtobeatthatbranchoftheart,Ideterminedtogoinforrowingproper,andjoinedoneoftheLeaboatingclubs. 

           BeingoutinaboatontheriverLea,especiallyonSaturdayafternoons,soonmakesyousmartathandlingacraft,andspryatescapingbeingrundownbyroughsorswampedbybarges; anditalsoaffordsplentyofopportunityforacquiringthemostpromptandgracefulmethodoflyingdownflatatthebottomoftheboatsoastoavoidbeingchuckedoutintotheriverbypassingtow-lines. 

           Butitdoesnotgiveyoustyle. ItwasnottillIcametotheThamesthatIgotstyle. Mystyleofrowingisverymuchadmirednow. Peoplesayitissoquaint. 

           Georgeneverwentnearthewateruntilhewassixteen.