The Open Air 



unhappy than I was on the towing-path, as the ferry- 

 boat receded and left me watching the continuous 

 succession of boats passing up and down the river. 



By-and-by an immense black hulk came drifting 

 round the bend an empty barge almost broadside 

 across the stream, for the current at the curve 

 naturally carried it out from the shore. This huge 

 helpless monster occupied the whole river, and had 

 no idea where it was going, for it had no fins or sweeps 

 to guide its course, and the rudder could only induce 

 it to submit itself lengthways to the stream after 

 the lapse of some time. The fairway of the river 

 was entirely taken up by this irresponsible Franken- 

 stein of the Thames, which some one had started, but 

 which now did as it liked. Some of the small craft 

 got up into the willows and waited; some seemed to 

 narrowly escape being crushed against a wall on the 

 opposite bank. The bright white sails of a yacht 

 shook and quivered as its steersman tried all he knew 

 to coax his vessel an inch more into the wind out of 

 the monster's path. In vain! He had to drop down 

 the stream, and lose what it had taken him half an 

 hour's skill to gain. What a pleasing monster to 

 meet in the narrow arches of a bridge! The man in 

 charge leaned on the tiller, and placidly gazed at the 

 wild efforts of some unskilful oarsmen to escape 

 collision. In fact, the monster had charge of the 

 man, and did as it liked with him. 



Down the river they drifted together, Frankenstein 

 swinging round and thrusting his blunt nose first 

 this way and then that; down the river, blocking 

 up the narrow passage by the eyot; stopping the 

 traffic at the lock; out at last into the tidal stream, 

 there to begin a fresh life of annoyance, and finally 

 to endanger the good speed of many a fine three- 



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