Трое в лодке не считая собаки

           Youtookfiveironarches,likegiganticcroquethoops,andfittedthemupovertheboat,andthenstretchedthecanvasoverthem,andfasteneditdown: itwouldtakequitetenminutes,wethought. 

           Thatwasanunder-estimate. 

           Wetookupthehoops,andbegantodropthemintothesocketsplacedforthem. Youwouldnotimaginethistobedangerouswork; but,lookingbacknow,thewondertomeisthatanyofusarealivetotellthetale. Theywerenothoops,theyweredemons. Firsttheywouldnotfitintotheirsocketsatall,andwehadtojumponthem,andkickthem,andhammeratthemwiththeboat-hook; and,whentheywerein,itturnedoutthattheywerethewronghoopsforthoseparticularsockets,andtheyhadtocomeoutagain. 

           Buttheywouldnotcomeout,untiltwoofushadgoneandstruggledwiththemforfiveminutes,whentheywouldjumpupsuddenly,andtryandthrowusintothewateranddrownus. Theyhadhingesinthemiddle,and,whenwewerenotlooking,theynippeduswiththesehingesindelicatepartsofthebody; and,whilewewerewrestlingwithonesideofthehoop,andendeavouringtopersuadeittodoitsduty,theothersidewouldcomebehindusinacowardlymanner,andhitusoverthehead. 

           Wegotthemfixedatlast,andthenallthatwastobedonewastoarrangethecoveringoverthem. Georgeunrolledit,andfastenedoneendoverthenoseoftheboat. HarrisstoodinthemiddletotakeitfromGeorgeandrollitontome,andIkeptbythesterntoreceiveit.