Троє в човні крім собаки

           WepassedSkiplakeastheclockwasstrikingthequartertotwelve;andthenGeorgesaid,thoughtfully: 

           "Youdon’thappentorememberwhichoftheislandsitwas,doyou?" 

           "No,"Ireplied,beginningtogrowthoughtfultoo,"Idon’t.Howmanyarethere?" 

           "Onlyfour,"answeredGeorge."Itwillbeallright,ifhe’sawake." 

           "Andifnot?"Iqueried;butwedismissedthattrainofthought. 

           Weshoutedwhenwecameoppositethefirstisland,buttherewasnoresponse;sowewenttothesecond,andtriedthere,andobtainedthesameresult. 

           "Oh!Iremembernow,"saidGeorge;"itwasthethirdone." 

           Andweranonhopefullytothethirdone,andhallooed. 

           Noanswer! 

           Thecasewasbecomingserious. itwasnowpastmidnight. ThehotelsatSkiplakeandHenleywouldbecrammed;andwecouldnotgoround,knockingupcottagersandhouseholdersinthemiddleofthenight,toknowiftheyletapartments! GeorgesuggestedwalkingbacktoHenleyandassaultingapoliceman,andsogettinganight’slodginginthestation-house. Butthentherewasthethought,"Supposeheonlyhitsusbackandrefusestolockusup!" 

           Wecouldnotpassthewholenightfightingpolicemen.Besides,wedidnotwanttooverdothethingandgetsixmonths. 

           Wedespairinglytriedwhatseemedinthedarknesstobethefourthisland,butmetwithnobettersuccess. Therainwascomingdownfastnow,andevidentlymeanttolast.Wewerewettotheskin,andcoldandmiserable.