Троє в човні крім собаки
Chapter 15
Buttheyarenot—noteventhen. Strokehastostretchhisarmsnearlyoutoftheirsocketstoreachhisscullsnow;whilebow’spair,ateachrecovery,hithimaviolentblowinthechest. Sotheychangebackagain,andcometotheconclusionthatthemanhasgiventhemthewrongsetaltogether; andovertheirmutualabuseofthismantheybecomequitefriendlyandsympathetic.
Georgesaidhehadoftenlongedtotaketopuntingforachange. Puntingisnotaseasyasitlooks. Asinrowing,yousoonlearnhowtogetalongandhandlethecraft,butittakeslongpracticebeforeyoucandothiswithdignityandwithoutgettingthewaterallupyoursleeve.
OneyoungmanIknewhadaverysadaccidenthappentohimthefirsttimehewentpunting. Hehadbeengettingonsowellthathehadgrownquitecheekyoverthebusiness,andwaswalkingupanddownthepunt,workinghispolewithacarelessgracethatwasquitefascinatingtowatch. Uphewouldmarchtotheheadofthepunt,planthispole,andthenrunalongrighttotheotherend,justlikeanoldpunter. Oh!itwasgrand.
Anditwouldallhavegoneonbeinggrandifhehadnotunfortunately,whilelookingroundtoenjoythescenery,takenjustonestepmorethantherewasanynecessityfor,andwalkedoffthepuntaltogether. Thepolewasfirmlyfixedinthemud,andhewasleftclingingtoitwhilethepuntdriftedaway. Itwasanundignifiedpositionforhim. Arudeboyonthebankimmediatelyyelledouttoalaggingchumto"hurryupandseerealmonkeyonastick."