Троє в човні крім собаки
Chapter 13
Ofcourse,itsentranceisstuddedwithpostsandchains,andsurroundedwithnoticeboards,menacingallkindsoftorture,imprisonment,anddeathtoeveryonewhodaressetsculluponitswaters —Iwondersomeoftheseriparianboorsdon’tclaimtheairoftheriverandthreateneveryonewithfortyshillingsfinewhobreathesit —butthepostsandchainsalittleskillwilleasilyavoid;andasfortheboards,youmight,ifyouhavefiveminutestospare,andthereisnobodyabout,takeoneortwoofthemdownandthrowthemintotheriver.
Half-wayupthebackwater,wegotoutandlunched; anditwasduringthislunchthatGeorgeandIreceivedratheratryingshock.
Harrisreceivedashock,too;butIdonotthinkHarris’sshockcouldhavebeenanythinglikesobadastheshockthatGeorgeandIhadoverthebusiness.
Yousee,itwasinthisway: weweresittinginameadow,abouttenyardsfromthewater’sedge,andwehadjustsettleddowncomfortablytofeed. Harrishadthebeefsteakpiebetweenhisknees,andwascarvingit,andGeorgeandIwerewaitingwithourplatesready.
"Haveyougotaspoonthere?"saysHarris;"Iwantaspoontohelpthegravywith."
Thehamperwasclosebehindus,andGeorgeandIbothturnedroundtoreachoneout. Wewerenotfivesecondsgettingit. Whenwelookedroundagain,Harrisandthepieweregone!
Itwasawide,openfield. Therewasnotatreeorabitofhedgeforhundredsofyards.