138 THE OPEN AIR. 



drifted me up into the creek, and the boatman took 

 charge of his skiff. " Shall I keep her handy for 

 you, sir?" he said, thinking to get me down every 

 day as a newcomer. I begged him not to put himself 

 to any trouble, still he repeated that he would keep 

 her ready. But in the road I shook off the dust of 

 my feet against the river, and earnestly resolved 

 never, never again to have anything to do with it (in 

 the heroic way) lower down than Henley. 



