Троє в човні крім собаки
Chapter 12
Harrisgotoffwithmerelyafleshwound.
Afterthat,Itookthetinoffmyself,andhammeredatitwiththemasttillIwaswornoutandsickatheart,whereuponHarristookitinhand.
Webeatitoutflat;webeatitbacksquare;webattereditintoeveryformknowntogeometry—butwecouldnotmakeaholeinit. ThenGeorgewentatit,andknockeditintoashape,sostrange,soweird,sounearthlyinitswildhideousness,thathegotfrightenedandthrewawaythemast. Thenweallthreesatrounditonthegrassandlookedatit.
Therewasonegreatdentacrossthetopthathadtheappearanceofamockinggrin,anditdroveusfurious,sothatHarrisrushedatthething,andcaughtitup,andflungitfarintothemiddleoftheriver,andasitsankwehurledourcursesatit,andwegotintotheboatandrowedawayfromthespot,andneverpausedtillwereachedMaidenhead.
Maidenheaditselfistoosnobbytobepleasant. Itisthehauntoftheriverswellandhisoverdressedfemalecompanion. Itisthetownofshowyhotels,patronisedchieflybydudesandballetgirls. Itisthewitch’skitchenfromwhichgoforththosedemonsoftheriver—steam-launches. TheLondonJournaldukealwayshashis"littleplace"atMaidenhead;andtheheroineofthethree-volumenovelalwaysdinestherewhenshegoesoutonthespreewithsomebodyelse’shusband.
WewentthroughMaidenheadquickly,andtheneasedup,andtookleisurelythatgrandreachbeyondBoulter’sandCookhamlocks.