Christmas Eve in a Punt. 229 



the larboard bow. They rounded into it, crackling through 

 the wafer ice, still progressing by means of the reeds. It 

 reminded them of the habitual drunkard, whose only means 

 of reaching home is to place his back against the wall 

 directly he gets outside the tavern-door, and slowly trundle 

 himself in an upright position along the fronts of the houses 

 until he rolls against his own door. How long they were to 

 progress in this fashion was a very uncomfortable problem 

 to face. They were embarked upon an apparently illimit- 

 able enterprise. Penetrating that dense forest of reeds was 

 out of the question. 



" Hark ! Thaf s Giles's watchdog," said Harvey. " We 

 are near the hamlet. Ah ! you may talk of the joy-inspiring 

 features of spring you " 



Crack ! crack ! 



The mocker had cut his mockery short ; he had taken up 

 his gun, and like lightning brought down a bird that rose 

 out of, or somewhere near, the reeds. 



" That's your bird," he said. " It has dropped in the 

 reeds. We must fetch it." 



The little boat cleft the tall reeds easily; the pochard 

 was, in good luck, retrieved by Thornbury almost at once ; 

 and, best of all, they discovered a method of approaching 

 the shore. Worst of all, however, they had to get over- 

 board and plunge up to their waists in mud and water to 

 drag the boat after them. 



Mr. Giles, the worthy farmer of the picturesque hamlet, 

 stared somewhat under his tasselled nightcap when the 

 gentlemen from the Manor threw shot at his casement, and 

 calmly stated their case. Hearing their determination to 

 proceed at once, he roused up a carter, and despatched 

 them in a neat two-wheeled vehicle without springs, and 

 which had been recently employed in the conveyance of 

 artificial manure. 



