Троє в човні крім собаки

           WeshoutedbackloudenoughtowaketheSevenSleepers—Inevercouldunderstandmyselfwhyitshouldtakemorenoisetowakesevensleepersthanone—and,afterwhatseemedanhour,butwhatwasreally,Isuppose,aboutfiveminutes,wesawthelightedboatcreepingslowlyovertheblackness,andheardHarris’ssleepyvoiceaskingwherewewere. 

           TherewasanunaccountablestrangenessaboutHarris. Itwassomethingmorethanmereordinarytiredness. Hepulledtheboatagainstapartofthebankfromwhichitwasquiteimpossibleforustogetintoit,andimmediatelywenttosleep. Ittookusanimmenseamountofscreamingandroaringtowakehimupagainandputsomesenseintohim;butwesucceededatlast,andgotsafelyonboard. 

           Harrishadasadexpressiononhim,sowenoticed,whenwegotintotheboat. Hegaveyoutheideaofamanwhohadbeenthroughtrouble. Weaskedhimifanythinghadhappened,andhesaid-"Swans!" 

           Itseemedwehadmooredclosetoaswan’snest,and,soonafterGeorgeandIhadgone,thefemaleswancameback,andkickeduparowaboutit. Harrishadchiviedheroff,andshehadgoneaway,andfetchedupheroldman. Harrissaidhehadhadquiteafightwiththesetwoswans;butcourageandskillhadprevailedintheend,andhehaddefeatedthem. 

           Half-an-hourafterwardstheyreturnedwitheighteenotherswans! Itmusthavebeenafearfulbattle,sofaraswecouldunderstandHarris’saccountofit.