Трое в лодке не считая собаки

           Hetoldtheothersthatitwassimpleenough;alltheyhadtodowastofollowhim. 

           Theysaidtheywereready,andtheboyonthelandingstagetookaboat-hookandshovedhimoff. 

           WhatthenfollowedGeorgeisunabletodescribeindetail. Hehasaconfusedrecollectionofhaving,immediatelyonstarting,receivedaviolentblowinthesmallofthebackfromthebutt-endofnumberfive’sscull,atthesametimethathisownseatseemedtodisappearfromunderhimbymagic,andleavehimsittingontheboards. Healsonoticed,asacuriouscircumstance,thatnumbertwowasatthesameinstantlyingonhisbackatthebottomoftheboat,withhislegsintheair,apparentlyinafit. 

           TheypassedunderKewBridge,broadside,attherateofeightmilesanhour. Joskinsbeingtheonlyonewhowasrowing. George,onrecoveringhisseat,triedtohelphim,but,ondippinghisoarintothewater,itimmediately,tohisintensesurprise,disappearedundertheboat,andnearlytookhimwithit. 

           Andthen"cox"threwbothrudderlinesover-board,andburstintotears. 

           HowtheygotbackGeorgeneverknew,butittookthemjustfortyminutes. AdensecrowdwatchedtheentertainmentfromKewBridgewithmuchinterest,andeverybodyshoutedouttothemdifferentdirections. Threetimestheymanagedtogettheboatbackthroughthearch,andthreetimestheywerecarriedunderitagain,andeverytime"cox"lookedupandsawthebridgeabovehimhebrokeoutintorenewedsobs.