Трое в лодке не считая собаки

           Themaninthehiredup-riverboatismodestandretiring. Helikestokeepontheshadyside,underneaththetrees,andtodomostofhistravellingearlyinthemorningorlateatnight,whentherearenotmanypeopleaboutontherivertolookathim. 

           Whenthemaninthehiredup-riverboatseesanyoneheknows,hegetsoutontothebank,andhidesbehindatree. 

           Iwasoneofapartywhohiredanup-riverboatonesummer,forafewdays’trip. Wehadnoneofuseverseenthehiredup-riverboatbefore;andwedidnotknowwhatitwaswhenwedidseeit. 

           Wehadwrittenforaboat—adoublescullingskiff;andwhenwewentdownwithourbagstotheyard,andgaveournames,themansaid: 

           "Oh,yes;you’rethepartythatwroteforadoublescullingskiff. It’sallright. Jim,fetchroundThePrideoftheThames." 

           Theboywent,andre-appearedfiveminutesafterwards,strugglingwithanantediluvianchunkofwood,thatlookedasthoughithadbeenrecentlydugoutofsomewhere,anddugoutcarelessly,soastohavebeenunnecessarilydamagedintheprocess. 

           Myownidea,onfirstcatchingsightoftheobject,wasthatitwasaRomanrelicofsomesort,—relicofwhatIdonotknow,possiblyofacoffin.