Down the Chocolate River

           ’Offwego!’criedMrWonka.’Hurryup,everybody!Followmetothenextroom!Andpleasedon’tworryaboutAugustusGloop.He’sboundtocomeoutinthewash.Theyalwaysdo. Weshallhavetomakethenextpartofthejourneybyboat!Hereshecomes!Look!’ 

           Asteamymistwasrisingupnowfromthegreatwarmchocolateriver,andoutofthemistthereappearedsuddenlyamostfantasticpinkboat. Itwasalargeopenrowboatwithatallfrontandatallback(likeaVikingboatofold),anditwasofsuchashiningsparklingglisteningpinkcolourthatthewholethinglookedasthoughitweremadeofbright,pinkglass. Thereweremanyoarsoneithersideofit,andastheboatcamecloser,thewatchersontheriverbankcouldseethattheoarswerebeingpulledbymassesofOompa-Loompas—atleasttenofthemtoeachoar. 

           ’Thisismyprivateyacht!’criedMrWonka,beamingwithpleasure.’Imadeherbyhollowingoutanenormousboiledsweet! Isn’tshebeautiful!Seehowshecomescuttingthroughtheriver!’ 

           Thegleamingpinkboiled-sweetboatglideduptotheriverbank.OnehundredOompa-Loompasrestedontheiroarsandstaredupatthevisitors. Thensuddenly,forsomereasonbestknowntothemselves,theyallburstintoshrieksoflaughter. 

           ’What’ssofunny?’askedVioletBeauregarde. 

           ’Oh,don’tworryaboutthem!’criedMrWonka.’They’realwayslaughing!Theythinkeverything’sacolossaljoke!Jumpintotheboat,allofyou!Comeon!Hurryup!’