Трое в лодке не считая собаки
Chapter 8
Thepropercoursetopursueistoofferyournameandaddress,andleavetheowner,ifhereallyhasanythingtodowiththematter,tosummonyou,andprovewhatdamageyouhavedonetohislandbysittingdownonabitofit. Butthemajorityofpeoplearesointenselylazyandtimid,thattheyprefertoencouragetheimpositionbygivingintoitratherthanputanendtoitbytheexertionofalittlefirmness.
Whereitisreallytheownersthataretoblame,theyoughttobeshownup. Theselfishnessoftheriparianproprietorgrowswitheveryyear. IfthesemenhadtheirwaytheywouldclosetheriverThamesaltogether. Theyactuallydothisalongtheminortributarystreamsandinthebackwaters. Theydrivepostsintothebedofthestream,anddrawchainsacrossfrombanktobank,andnailhugenotice-boardsoneverytree. Thesightofthosenotice-boardsrouseseveryevilinstinctinmynature. IfeelIwanttoteareachonedown,andhammeritovertheheadofthemanwhoputitup,untilIhavekilledhim,andthenIwouldburyhim,andputtheboardupoverthegraveasatombstone.
ImentionedthesefeelingsofminetoHarris,andhesaidhehadthemworsethanthat. Hesaidhenotonlyfelthewantedtokillthemanwhocausedtheboardtobeputup,butthatheshouldliketoslaughterthewholeofhisfamilyandallhisfriendsandrelations,andthenburndownhishouse. Thisseemedtometobegoingtoofar,andIsaidsotoHarris;butheanswered:
"Notabitofit.Serve’emalljollywellright,andI’dgoandsingcomicsongsontheruins."
IwasvexedtohearHarrisgooninthisblood-thirstystrain. Weneveroughttoallowourinstinctsofjusticetodegenerateintomerevindictiveness.