Трое в лодке не считая собаки

           Icouldnotgotohisassistance,because,asill-luckwouldhaveit,wehadnottakentheproperprecautiontobringoutasparepolewithus. Icouldonlysitandlookathim. HisexpressionasthepoleslowlysankwithhimIshallneverforget;therewassomuchthoughtinit. 

           Iwatchedhimgentlyletdownintothewater,andsawhimscrambleout,sadandwet. Icouldnothelplaughing,helookedsucharidiculousfigure. Icontinuedtochuckletomyselfaboutitforsometime,andthenitwassuddenlyforcedinuponmethatreallyIhadgotverylittletolaughatwhenIcametothinkofit. HerewasI,aloneinapunt,withoutapole,driftinghelplesslydownmid-stream—possiblytowardsaweir. 

           Ibegantofeelveryindignantwithmyfriendforhavingsteppedoverboardandgoneoffinthatway. Hemight,atallevents,haveleftmethepole. 

           Idriftedonforaboutaquarterofamile,andthenIcameinsightofafishing-puntmooredinmid-stream,inwhichsattwooldfishermen. Theysawmebearingdownuponthem,andtheycalledouttometokeepoutoftheirway. 

           "Ican’t,"Ishoutedback. 

           "Butyoudon’ttry,"theyanswered. 

           IexplainedthemattertothemwhenIgotnearer,andtheycaughtmeandlentmeapole. Theweirwasjustfiftyyardsbelow. Iamgladtheyhappenedtobethere. 

           ThefirsttimeIwentpuntingwasincompanywiththreeotherfellows;theyweregoingtoshowmehowtodoit.