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The tide was running out pretty rapidly when they reached the landing…
stage； and there was a stiff breeze blowing across the river； but this
did not trouble them at all； and they proceeded to select their boat。
There was an eight…oared racing outrigger drawn up on the stage； that was
the one that took their fancy。 They said they'd have that one； please。
The boatman was away； and only his boy was in charge。 The boy tried to
damp their ardour for the outrigger； and showed them two or three very
comfortable…looking boats of the family…party build； but those would not
do at all； the outrigger was the boat they thought they would look best
in。
So the boy launched it； and they took off their coats and prepared to
take their seats。 The boy suggested that George； who； even in those
days； was always the heavy man of any party； should be number four。
George said he should be happy to be number four； and promptly stepped
into bow's place； and sat down with his back to the stern。 They got him
into his proper position at last； and then the others followed。
A particularly nervous boy was appointed cox； and the steering principle
explained to him by Joskins。 Joskins himself took stroke。 He told the
others that it was simple enough； all they had to do was to follow him。
They said they were ready； and the boy on the landing stage took a boat…
hook and shoved him off。
What then followed George is unable to describe in detail。 He has a
confused recollection of having； immediately on starting； received a
violent blow in the small of the back from the butt…end of number five's
scull； at the same time that his own seat seemed to disappear from under
him by magic； and leave him sitting on the boards。 He also noticed； as a
curious circumstance； that number two was at the same instant lying on
his back at the bottom of the boat； with his legs in the air； apparently
in a fit。
They passed under Kew Bridge； broadside； at the rate of eight miles an
hour。 Joskins being the only one who was rowing。 George； on recovering
his seat； tried to help him； but； on dipping his oar into the water； it
immediately； to his intense surprise； disappeared under the boat； and
nearly took him with it。
And then 〃cox〃 threw both rudder lines over…board； and burst into tears。
How they got back George never knew； but it took them just forty minutes。
A dense crowd watched the entertainment from Kew Bridge with much
interest； and everybody shouted out to them different directions。 Three
times they managed to get the boat back through the arch； and three times
they were carried under it again； and every time 〃cox〃 looked up and saw
the bridge above him he broke out into renewed sobs。
George said he little thought that afternoon that he should ever come to
really like boating。
Harris is more accustomed to sea rowing than to river work； and says
that； as an exercise； he prefers it。 I don't。 I remember taking a small
boat out at Eastbourne last summer： I used to do a good deal of sea
rowing years ago； and I thought I should be all right； but I found I had
forgotten the art entirely。 When one scull was deep down underneath the
water； the other would be flourishing wildly about in the air。 To get a
grip of the water with both at the same time I had to stand up。 The
parade was crowded with nobility and gentry； and I had to pull past them
in this ridiculous fashion。 I landed half…way down the beach； and
secured the services of an old boatman to take me back。
I like to watch an old boatman rowing； especially one who has been hired
by the hour。 There is something so beautifully calm and restful about
his method。 It is so free from that fretful haste； that vehement
striving； that is every day becoming more and more the bane of
nineteenth…century life。 He is not for ever straining himself to pass
all the other boats。 If another boat overtakes him and passes him it
does not annoy him； as a matter of fact； they all do overtake him and
pass him … all those that are going his way。 This would trouble and
irritate some people； the sublime equanimity of the hired boatman under
the ordeal affords us a beautiful lesson against ambition and uppishness。
Plain practical rowing of the get…the…boat…along order is not a very
difficult art to acquire； but it takes a good deal of practice before a
man feels comfortable； when rowing past girls。 It is the 〃time〃 that
worries a youngster。 〃It's jolly funny；〃 he says； as for the twentieth
time within five minutes he disentangles his sculls from yours； 〃I can
get on all right when I'm by myself！〃
To see two novices try to keep time with one another is very amusing。
Bow finds it impossible to keep pace with stroke； because stroke rows in
such an extraordinary fashion。 Stroke is intensely indignant at this；
and explains that what he has been endeavouring to do for the last ten
minutes is to adapt his method to bow's limited capacity。 Bow； in turn；
then becomes insulted； and requests stroke not to trouble his head about
him （bow）； but to devote his mind to setting a sensible stroke。
〃Or； shall I take stroke？〃 he adds； with the evident idea that that would
at once put the whole matter right。
They splash along for another hundred yards with still moderate success；
and then the whole secret of their trouble bursts upon stroke like a
flash of inspiration。
〃I tell you what it is： you've got my sculls；〃 he cries； turning to bow；
〃pass yours over。〃
〃Well； do you know； I've been wondering how it was I couldn't get on with
these；〃 answers bow； quite brightening up； and most willingly assisting
in the exchange。 〃NOW we shall be all right。〃
But they are not … not even then。 Stroke has to stretch his arms nearly
out of their sockets to reach his sculls now； while bow's pair； at each
recovery； hit him a violent blow in the chest。 So they change back
again； and come to the conclusion that the man has given them the wrong
set altogether； and over their mutual abuse of this man they become quite
friendly and sympathetic。
George said he had often longed to take to punting for a change。 Punting
is not as easy as it looks。 As in rowing； you soon learn how to get
along and handle the craft； but it takes long practice before you can do
this with dignity and without getting the water all up your sleeve。
One young man I knew had a very sad accident happen to him the first time
he went punting。 He had been getting on so well that he had grown quite
cheeky over the business； and was walking up and down the punt； working
his pole with a careless grace that was quite fascinating to watch。 Up
he would march to the head of the punt； plant his pole； and then run
along right to the other end； just like an old punter。 Oh！ it was grand。
And it would all have gone on being grand if he had not unfortun