Chapter 8

           WestoppedunderthewillowsbyKemptonPark,andlunched. Itisaprettylittlespotthere: apleasantgrassplateau,runningalongbythewater’sedge,andoverhungbywillows. Wehadjustcommencedthethirdcourse—thebreadandjam—whenagentlemaninshirt-sleevesandashortpipecamealong,andwantedtoknowifweknewthatweweretrespassing. Wesaidwehadn’tgiventhemattersufficientconsiderationasyettoenableustoarriveatadefiniteconclusiononthatpoint,butthat,ifheassuredusonhiswordasagentlemanthatweweretrespassing,wewould,withoutfurtherhesitation,believeit. 

           Hegaveustherequiredassurance,andwethankedhim,buthestillhungabout,andseemedtobedissatisfied,soweaskedhimiftherewasanythingfurtherthatwecoulddoforhim;andHarris,whoisofachummydisposition,offeredhimabitofbreadandjam. 

           Ifancyhemusthavebelongedtosomesocietysworntoabstainfrombreadandjam;forhedeclineditquitegruffly,asifhewerevexedatbeingtemptedwithit,andheaddedthatitwashisdutytoturnusoff. 

           Harrissaidthatifitwasadutyitoughttobedone,andaskedthemanwhatwashisideawithregardtothebestmeansforaccomplishingit. Harrisiswhatyouwouldcallawell-mademanofaboutnumberonesize,andlookshardandbony,andthemanmeasuredhimupanddown,andsaidhewouldgoandconsulthismaster,andthencomebackandchuckusbothintotheriver. 

           Ofcourse,weneversawhimanymore,and,ofcourse,allhereallywantedwasashilling. Thereareacertainnumberofriversideroughswhomakequiteanincome,duringthesummer,byslouchingaboutthebanksandblackmailingweak-mindednoodlesinthisway. Theyrepresentthemselvesassentbytheproprietor.