:&-^ NATURE NEAR LONDON 



The very architecture on the shore is old-fashioned 

 where these bluff-bowed vessels come, narrow 

 streets and over-hanging houses, boat anchors in 

 the windows, sails and tarry ropes ; and is there 

 not a Row Barge Inn somewhere ? 



" Hoy, ahoy ! " 



The sudden shout startles me, and, glancing 

 round, I find an empty black barge, high out of the 

 water, floating helplessly down upon me with the 

 stream. Noiselessly the great hulk had drifted 

 upon me ; as it came the light glinted on the 

 wavelets before the bow, quick points of brilliant 

 light. But two strokes with the sculls carried me 

 out of the way. 



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