THE MODEBN THAMES. 123 



into other people's boats, forcing them up into the 

 willows, or against the islands. Never slip along the 

 shore, or into quiet backwaters ; always select the more 

 frequented parts, not because you want to go there, 

 but to make your presence known, and go amongst the 

 crowd ; and if a few sculls get broken, it only proves 

 how very inferior and how very clumsy other people are. 

 If you see another boat coming down stream in the 

 centre of the river with a broad space on either side 

 for others to pass, at once head your own boat straight 

 at her, and take possession of the way. Or, better 

 still, never look ahead, but pull straight on, and let 

 things happen as they may. Annoy everybody, and 

 you are sure to be right, and to be respected ; splash 

 the ladies as you pass with a dexterous flip of the 

 scull, and soak their summer costumes ; it is capital 

 sport, and they look so sulky — or is it contemptuous ? 

 There was no such thing as a skiff in which one 

 could quietly paddle about, or gently make way — mile 

 after mile — up the beautiful stream. The boating 

 throng grew thicker, and my courage less and less, 

 till I desperately resorted to the ferry — at all events, 

 I could be rowed over in the ferry-boat, that would be 

 something ; I should be on the water, after a fashion 

 — and the ferryman would know a good deal. The 

 burly ferryman cared nothing at all about the river, 

 and merely answered *'Yes," or "No;" he was full 

 of the Derby and Sandown; didn't know about the 

 fishing ; supposed there were fish ; didn't see 'em, nor 

 eat 'em; want a punt? No. So he landed me, 

 desolate and hopeless, on the opposite bank, and I 

 began to understand how the souls felt after Charon 



