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And it would all have gone on being grand if he had not unfortunately；
while looking round to enjoy the scenery； taken just one step more than
there was any necessity for； and walked off the punt altogether。 The
pole was firmly fixed in the mud； and he was left clinging to it while
the punt drifted away。 It was an undignified position for him。 A rude
boy on the bank immediately yelled out to a lagging chum to 〃hurry up and
see real monkey on a stick。〃
I could not go to his assistance； because； as ill…luck would have it； we
had not taken the proper precaution to bring out a spare pole with us。 I
could only sit and look at him。 His expression as the pole slowly sank
with him I shall never forget； there was so much thought in it。
I watched him gently let down into the water； and saw him scramble out；
sad and wet。 I could not help laughing； he looked such a ridiculous
figure。 I continued to chuckle to myself about it for some time； and
then it was suddenly forced in upon me that really I had got very little
to laugh at when I came to think of it。 Here was I； alone in a punt；
without a pole； drifting helplessly down mid…stream … possibly towards a
weir。
I began to feel very indignant with my friend for having stepped
overboard and gone off in that way。 He might； at all events； have left
me the pole。
I drifted on for about a quarter of a mile； and then I came in sight of a
fishing…punt moored in mid…stream； in which sat two old fishermen。 They
saw me bearing down upon them； and they called out to me to keep out of
their way。
〃I can't；〃 I shouted back。
〃But you don't try；〃 they answered。
I explained the matter to them when I got nearer； and they caught me and
lent me a pole。 The weir was just fifty yards below。 I am glad they
happened to be there。
The first time I went punting was in company with three other fellows；
they were going to show me how to do it。 We could not all start
together； so I said I would go down first and get out the punt； and then
I could potter about and practice a bit until they came。
I could not get a punt out that afternoon； they were all engaged； so I
had nothing else to do but to sit down on the bank； watching the river；
and waiting for my friends。
I had not been sitting there long before my attention became attracted to
a man in a punt who； I noticed with some surprise； wore a jacket and cap
exactly like mine。 He was evidently a novice at punting； and his
performance was most interesting。 You never knew what was going to
happen when he put the pole in； he evidently did not know himself。
Sometimes he shot up stream and sometimes he shot down stream； and at
other times he simply spun round and came up the other side of the pole。
And with every result he seemed equally surprised and annoyed。
The people about the river began to get quite absorbed in him after a
while； and to make bets with one another as to what would be the outcome
of his next push。
In the course of time my friends arrived on the opposite bank； and they
stopped and watched him too。 His back was towards them； and they only
saw his jacket and cap。 From this they immediately jumped to the
conclusion that it was I； their beloved companion； who was making an
exhibition of himself； and their delight knew no bounds。 They commenced
to chaff him unmercifully。
I did not grasp their mistake at first； and I thought； 〃How rude of them
to go on like that； with a perfect stranger； too！〃 But before I could
call out and reprove them； the explanation of the matter occurred to me；
and I withdrew behind a tree。
Oh； how they enjoyed themselves； ridiculing that young man！ For five
good minutes they stood there； shouting ribaldry at him； deriding him；
mocking him； jeering at him。 They peppered him with stale jokes； they
even made a few new ones and threw at him。 They hurled at him all the
private family jokes belonging to our set； and which must have been
perfectly unintelligible to him。 And then； unable to stand their brutal
jibes any longer； he turned round on them； and they saw his face！
I was glad to notice that they had sufficient decency left in them to
look very foolish。 They explained to him that they had thought he was
some one they knew。 They said they hoped he would not deem them capable
of so insulting any one except a personal friend of their own。
Of course their having mistaken him for a friend excused it。 I remember
Harris telling me once of a bathing experience he had at Boulogne。 He
was swimming about there near the beach； when he felt himself suddenly
seized by the neck from behind； and forcibly plunged under water。 He
struggled violently； but whoever had got hold of him seemed to be a
perfect Hercules in strength； and all his efforts to escape were
unavailing。 He had given up kicking； and was trying to turn his thoughts
upon solemn things； when his captor released him。
He regained his feet； and looked round for his would…be murderer。 The
assassin was standing close by him； laughing heartily； but the moment he
caught sight of Harris's face； as it emerged from the water； he started
back and seemed quite concerned。
〃I really beg your pardon；〃 he stammered confusedly； 〃but I took you for
a friend of mine！〃
Harris thought it was lucky for him the man had not mistaken him for a
relation； or he would probably have been drowned outright。
Sailing is a thing that wants knowledge and practice too … though； as a
boy； I did not think so。 I had an idea it came natural to a body； like
rounders and touch。 I knew another boy who held this view likewise； and
so； one windy day； we thought we would try the sport。 We were stopping
down at Yarmouth； and we decided we would go for a trip up the Yare。 We
hired a sailing boat at the yard by the bridge； and started off。 〃It's
rather a rough day；〃 said the man to us； as we put off： 〃better take in a
reef and luff sharp when you get round the bend。〃
We said we would make a point of it； and left him with a cheery 〃Good…
morning；〃 wondering to ourselves how you 〃luffed；〃 and where we were to
get a 〃reef〃 from； and what we were to do with it when we had got it。
We rowed until we were out of sight of the town； and then； with a wide
stretch of water in front of us； and the wind blowing a perfect hurricane
across it； we felt that the time had come to commence operations。
Hector … I think that was his name … went on pulling while I unrolled the
sail。 It seemed a complicated job； but I accomplished it at length； and
then came the question； which was the top end？
By a sort of natural instinct； we； of course； eventually decided that the
bottom was the top； and set to work to fix it upside…down。 But it was a
long time before we could get it up； either that way or any other way。
The impression on the mind of the