Троє в човні крім собаки
Chapter 18
Inanothermomentweshouldbeover. Quickasthought,weeachseizedanoar,andavigorousblowagainstthesideofthelockwiththebutt-endsreleasedtheboat,andsentussprawlingonourbacks.
Wedidnotcomeoutwellinthatphotograph,GeorgeandI. Ofcourse,aswastobeexpected,ourluckordainedit,thatthemanshouldsethiswretchedmachineinmotionattheprecisemomentthatwewerebothlyingonourbackswithawildexpressionof"WhereamI?andwhatisit?"onourfaces,andourfourfeetwavingmadlyintheair.
Ourfeetwereundoubtedlytheleadingarticleinthatphotograph. Indeed,verylittleelsewastobeseen. Theyfilleduptheforegroundentirely. Behindthem,youcaughtglimpsesoftheotherboats,andbitsofthesurroundingscenery;buteverythingandeverybodyelseinthelocklookedsoutterlyinsignificantandpaltrycomparedwithourfeet,thatalltheotherpeoplefeltquiteashamedofthemselves,andrefusedtosubscribetothepicture.
Theownerofonesteamlaunch,whohadbespokesixcopies,rescindedtheorderonseeingthenegative. Hesaidhewouldtakethemifanybodycouldshowhimhislaunch,butnobodycould. ItwassomewherebehindGeorge’srightfoot.
Therewasagooddealofunpleasantnessoverthebusiness. Thephotographerthoughtweoughttotakeadozencopieseach,seeingthatthephotowasaboutnine-tenthsus,butwedeclined. Wesaidwehadnoobjectiontobeingphoto’dfull-length,butwepreferredbeingtakentherightwayup.