3i8 FIELD AND HEDGEROW. 



a wall at the side of the house. These oars looked like 

 fragments of a wreck, broken and irregular. The right- 

 hand scull was heavy, as if made of ironwood, the blade 

 broad and spoon-shaped, so as to have a most powerful 

 grip of the water. The left-hand scull was light and 

 slender, with a narrow blade like a marrow scoop ; so 

 when you had the punt, you had to pull very hard with 

 your left hand and gently with the right to get the 

 forces equal. The punt had a list of its own, and no 

 matter how you rowed, it would still make leeway. 

 Those who did not know its character were perpetually 

 trying to get this crooked wake straight, and conse- 

 quently went round and round exactly like the whirligig 

 beetle. Those who knew used to let the leeway proceed 

 a good way and then alter it, so as to act in the other 

 direction like an elongated zigzag. These sculls the old 

 fellow would bring you as if they were great treasures, 

 and watch you off in the punt as if he was parting with 

 his dearest. At that date it was no little matter to coax 

 him round to unchain his vessel. You had to take an 

 interest in the garden, in the baits, and the weather, and 

 be very humble ; then perhaps he would tell you he did 

 not want it for the trimmers, or the withy, or the flags, 

 and you might have it for an hour as far as he could 

 see ; * did not think my lord's steward would come over 

 that morning ; of course, if he did you must come in,' 

 and so on ; and if the stars were propitious, by-and-by 

 the punt was got afloat. These sculls were tilted up 

 against the wall, and as you innocently went to take 

 one, Wauw ! — a dirty little ill-tempered mongrel poodle 

 rolled himself like a ball to your heels and snapped his 

 teeth — Wauw ! At the bark, out rushed the old lady, 

 his housekeeper, shouting in the shrillest key to the dog 

 to lie still, and to you that the bailiff would be there in 



