356 LEISURE-TIME STUDIES. 



Isis is placed afar off, the devious course of our stream 

 giving us cause for the exercise of skill and care in guiding 

 our ship along the narrows. " Happy thought," you say. 

 Well, so be it. Jump into the punt, which lies moored to the 

 orchard-bank within some ten feet of us ; and, pole in hand, 

 let us guide our craft down the water-way, which curves to the 

 right within the next twenty yards or so. A strong push, 

 and our prowless barge leaves the bank and shoots out into 

 the stream. Pole in hand, we dexterously shift our course 

 as the bend of the river before us Is reached, and as the punt 

 sweeps round in obedience to the impetus, we may see for a 

 short distance a straight prospect. Your punt is a stubborn 

 machine, albeit that it draws its water by the inch, and can 

 be made to accommodate itself in wondrous fashion to in- 

 experienced eyes, at least to all the windings and other 

 untoward exigiences of a river. Going with the stream is easy 

 work practically and in a punt, as is the task of drifting with 

 other currents in life less tangible, perhaps, but quite as un- 

 stable and shifting as those of the water-ways before us. For 

 the stream carries you onwards, and with a few touches of the 

 pole, which may be administered even by the inexperienced 

 hand, progress is a sure thing; and the navigation of the 

 reeds and shallows is pleasant, even if somewhat slow. But 

 revocare gradum is to punt very hard against the stream and 

 this latter is no easy task, if it be remembered that your craft 

 is, so to speak, all stern, and that your efforts with the pole 

 are at the best but partial and onesided. Now you swing 

 round into position and give the punt a forward movement. 

 But the practical study of combined dynamics and hydraulics 

 becomes painful ; for ere you may counteract the effect of 

 your first stroke, the prowless boat has swung round with the 

 force of the stream, and you simply describe a circle instead 

 of progressing. But we will walk home through the 

 meadows, and we need not trouble ourselves regarding the 

 toils of punting at present. 



The plant life on the banks is even more lovely than that 

 of the upper reach we have left. Pass we now through serried 



