Троє в човні крім собаки
Chapter 15
Wehadhadasail—agoodall-roundexciting,interestingsail—andnowwethoughtwewouldhavearow,justforachangelike.
Wetookthescullsandtriedtopushtheboatoffthemud,and,indoingso,webrokeoneofthesculls. Afterthatweproceededwithgreatcaution,buttheywereawretchedoldpair,andthesecondonecrackedalmosteasierthanthefirst,andleftushelpless.
Themudstretchedoutforaboutahundredyardsinfrontofus,andbehinduswasthewater. Theonlythingtobedonewastositandwaituntilsomeonecameby.
Itwasnotthesortofdaytoattractpeopleoutontheriver,anditwasthreehoursbeforeasoulcameinsight. Itwasanoldfishermanwho,withimmensedifficulty,atlastrescuedus,andweweretowedbackinanignominiousfashiontotheboat-yard.
Whatbetweentippingthemanwhohadbroughtushome,andpayingforthebrokensculls,andforhavingbeenoutfourhoursandahalf,itcostusaprettyconsiderablenumberofweeks’pocket-money,thatsail. Butwelearnedexperience,andtheysaythatisalwayscheapatanyprice.
