Троє в човні крім собаки
Chapter 12
Welookedatthepictureonthetin; wethoughtofthejuice. Wesmiledatoneanother,andHarrisgotaspoonready.
Thenwelookedfortheknifetoopenthetinwith. Weturnedouteverythinginthehamper. Weturnedoutthebags. Wepulleduptheboardsatthebottomoftheboat. Wetookeverythingoutontothebankandshookit. Therewasnotin-openertobefound.
ThenHarristriedtoopenthetinwithapocket-knife,andbroketheknifeandcuthimselfbadly;andGeorgetriedapairofscissors,andthescissorsflewup,andnearlyputhiseyeout. Whiletheyweredressingtheirwounds,Itriedtomakeaholeinthethingwiththespikyendofthehitcher,andthehitcherslippedandjerkedmeoutbetweentheboatandthebankintotwofeetofmuddywater,andthetinrolledover,uninjured,andbrokeateacup.
Thenweallgotmad. Wetookthattinoutonthebank,andHarriswentupintoafieldandgotabigsharpstone,andIwentbackintotheboatandbroughtoutthemast,andGeorgeheldthetinandHarrisheldthesharpendofhisstoneagainstthetopofit,andItookthemastandpoisedithighupintheair,andgatheredupallmystrengthandbroughtitdown.
ItwasGeorge’sstrawhatthatsavedhislifethatday. Hekeepsthathatnow(whatisleftofit),and,ofawinter’sevening,whenthepipesarelitandtheboysaretellingstretchersaboutthedangerstheyhavepassedthrough,Georgebringsitdownandshowsitround,andthestirringtaleistoldanew,withfreshexaggerationseverytime.