Трое в лодке не считая собаки

           Weaskedtheservantforourhatsandcoatsinwhispers,andopenedthedoorforourselves,andslippedout,andgotroundthecornerquickly,avoidingeachotherasmuchaspossible. 

           IhavenevertakenmuchinterestinGermansongssincethen. 

           WereachedSunburyLockathalf-pastthree. Theriverissweetlyprettyjusttherebeforeyoucometothegates,andthebackwaterischarming;butdon’tattempttorowupit. 

           Itriedtodosoonce. Iwassculling,andaskedthefellowswhoweresteeringiftheythoughtitcouldbedone,andtheysaid,oh,yes,theythoughtso,ifIpulledhard. Wewerejustunderthelittlefoot-bridgethatcrossesitbetweenthetwoweirs,whentheysaidthis,andIbentdownoverthesculls,andsetmyselfup,andpulled. 

           Ipulledsplendidly. Igotwellintoasteadyrhythmicalswing. Iputmyarms,andmylegs,andmybackintoit. Isetmyselfagood,quick,dashingstroke,andworkedinreallygrandstyle. Mytwofriendssaiditwasapleasuretowatchme. Attheendoffiveminutes,Ithoughtweoughttobeprettyneartheweir,andIlookedup. Wewereunderthebridge,inexactlythesamespotthatwewerewhenIbegan,andtherewerethosetwoidiots,injuringthemselvesbyviolentlaughing. Ihadbeengrindingawaylikemadtokeepthatboatstuckstillunderthatbridge. Iletotherpeoplepullupbackwatersagainststrongstreamsnow. 

           WesculleduptoWalton,aratherlargeplaceforariversidetown. Aswithallriversideplaces,onlythetiniestcornerofitcomesdowntothewater,sothatfromtheboatyoumightfancyitwasavillageofsomehalf-dozenhouses,alltold. WindsorandAbingdonaretheonlytownsbetweenLondonandOxfordthatyoucanreallyseeanythingoffromthestream.