Троє в човні крім собаки
Chapter 17
"BecauseIdon’texpectanybodywouldbelievemeifIdid,"repliestheoldfellowcalmly,andwithoutevenatingeofbitternessinhistone,asherefillshispipe,andrequeststhelandlordtobringhimthreeofScotch,cold.
Thereisapauseafterthis,nobodyfeelingsufficientlysureofhimselftocontradicttheoldgentleman. Sohehastogoonbyhimselfwithoutanyencouragement.
"No,"hecontinuesthoughtfully;"Ishouldn’tbelieveitmyselfifanybodytoldittome,butit’safact,forallthat. Ihadbeensittingtherealltheafternoonandhadcaughtliterallynothing—exceptafewdozendaceandascoreofjack; andIwasjustaboutgivingitupasabadjobwhenIsuddenlyfeltarathersmartpullattheline. Ithoughtitwasanotherlittleone,andIwenttojerkitup. Hangme,ifIcouldmovetherod! Ittookmehalf-an-hour—half-an-hour,sir!—tolandthatfish;andeverymomentIthoughtthelinewasgoingtosnap! Ireachedhimatlast,andwhatdoyouthinkitwas? Asturgeon!afortypoundsturgeon!takenonaline,sir! Yes,youmaywelllooksurprised—I’llhaveanotherthreeofScotch,landlord,please."
Andthenhegoesontotelloftheastonishmentofeverybodywhosawit;andwhathiswifesaid,whenhegothome,andofwhatJoeBugglesthoughtaboutit.
Iaskedthelandlordofaninnuptheriveronce,ifitdidnotinjurehim,sometimes,listeningtothetalesthatthefishermenabouttheretoldhim;andhesaid:
