Трое в лодке не считая собаки

           Buttheyarenot—noteventhen. Strokehastostretchhisarmsnearlyoutoftheirsocketstoreachhisscullsnow;whilebow’spair,ateachrecovery,hithimaviolentblowinthechest. Sotheychangebackagain,andcometotheconclusionthatthemanhasgiventhemthewrongsetaltogether; andovertheirmutualabuseofthismantheybecomequitefriendlyandsympathetic. 

           Georgesaidhehadoftenlongedtotaketopuntingforachange. Puntingisnotaseasyasitlooks. Asinrowing,yousoonlearnhowtogetalongandhandlethecraft,butittakeslongpracticebeforeyoucandothiswithdignityandwithoutgettingthewaterallupyoursleeve. 

           OneyoungmanIknewhadaverysadaccidenthappentohimthefirsttimehewentpunting. Hehadbeengettingonsowellthathehadgrownquitecheekyoverthebusiness,andwaswalkingupanddownthepunt,workinghispolewithacarelessgracethatwasquitefascinatingtowatch. Uphewouldmarchtotheheadofthepunt,planthispole,andthenrunalongrighttotheotherend,justlikeanoldpunter. Oh!itwasgrand. 

           Anditwouldallhavegoneonbeinggrandifhehadnotunfortunately,whilelookingroundtoenjoythescenery,takenjustonestepmorethantherewasanynecessityfor,andwalkedoffthepuntaltogether. Thepolewasfirmlyfixedinthemud,andhewasleftclingingtoitwhilethepuntdriftedaway. Itwasanundignifiedpositionforhim. Arudeboyonthebankimmediatelyyelledouttoalaggingchumto"hurryupandseerealmonkeyonastick."