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duty up the river with every boating…man for years past … and added seven
entirely original ones that we had invented for ourselves； including a
really quite likely story； founded； to a certain extent； on an all but
true episode； which had actually happened in a modified degree some years
ago to friends of ours … a story that a mere child could have believed
without injuring itself； much。
And that young man mocked at them all； and wanted us to repeat the feats
then and there； and to bet us ten to one that we didn't。
We got to chatting about our rowing experiences this morning； and to
recounting stories of our first efforts in the art of oarsmanship。 My
own earliest boating recollection is of five of us contributing
threepence each and taking out a curiously constructed craft on the
Regent's Park lake； drying ourselves subsequently； in the park…keeper's
lodge。
After that； having acquired a taste for the water； I did a good deal of
rafting in various suburban brickfields … an exercise providing more
interest and excitement than might be imagined； especially when you are
in the middle of the pond and the proprietor of the materials of which
the raft is constructed suddenly appears on the bank； with a big stick in
his hand。
Your first sensation on seeing this gentleman is that； somehow or other；
you don't feel equal to company and conversation； and that； if you could
do so without appearing rude； you would rather avoid meeting him； and
your object is； therefore； to get off on the opposite side of the pond to
which he is； and to go home quietly and quickly； pretending not to see
him。 He； on the contrary is yearning to take you by the hand； and talk
to you。
It appears that he knows your father； and is intimately acquainted with
yourself； but this does not draw you towards him。 He says he'll teach
you to take his boards and make a raft of them； but； seeing that you know
how to do this pretty well already； the offer； though doubtless kindly
meant； seems a superfluous one on his part； and you are reluctant to put
him to any trouble by accepting it。
His anxiety to meet you； however； is proof against all your coolness； and
the energetic manner in which he dodges up and down the pond so as to be
on the spot to greet you when you land is really quite flattering。
If he be of a stout and short…winded build； you can easily avoid his
advances； but； when he is of the youthful and long…legged type； a meeting
is inevitable。 The interview is； however； extremely brief； most of the
conversation being on his part； your remarks being mostly of an
exclamatory and mono…syllabic order； and as soon as you can tear yourself
away you do so。
I devoted some three months to rafting； and； being then as proficient as
there was any need to be at that branch of the art； I determined to go in
for rowing proper； and joined one of the Lea boating clubs。
Being out in a boat on the river Lea； especially on Saturday afternoons；
soon makes you smart at handling a craft； and spry at escaping being run
down by roughs or swamped by barges； and it also affords plenty of
opportunity for acquiring the most prompt and graceful method of lying
down flat at the bottom of the boat so as to avoid being chucked out into
the river by passing tow…lines。
But it does not give you style。 It was not till I came to the Thames
that I got style。 My style of rowing is very much admired now。 People
say it is so quaint。
George never went near the water until he was sixteen。 Then he and eight
other gentlemen of about the same age went down in a body to Kew one
Saturday； with the idea of hiring a boat there； and pulling to Richmond
and back； one of their number； a shock…headed youth； named Joskins； who
had once or twice taken out a boat on the Serpentine； told them it was
jolly fun； boating！
The tide was running out pretty rapidly when they reached the landing…
stage； and there was a stiff breeze blowing across the river； but this
did not trouble them at all； and they proceeded to select their boat。
There was an eight…oared racing outrigger drawn up on the stage； that was
the one that took their fancy。 They said they'd have that one； please。
The boatman was away； and only his boy was in charge。 The boy tried to
damp their ardour for the outrigger； and showed them two or three very
comfortable…looking boats of the family…party build； but those would not
do at all； the outrigger was the boat they thought they would look best
in。
So the boy launched it； and they took off their coats and prepared to
take their seats。 The boy suggested that George； who； even in those
days； was always the heavy man of any party； should be number four。
George said he should be happy to be number four； and promptly stepped
into bow's place； and sat down with his back to the stern。 They got him
into his proper position at last； and then the others followed。
A particularly nervous boy was appointed cox； and the steering principle
explained to him by Joskins。 Joskins himself took stroke。 He told the
others that it was simple enough； all they had to do was to follow him。
They said they were ready； and the boy on the landing stage took a boat…
hook and shoved him off。
What then followed George is unable to describe in detail。 He has a
confused recollection of having； immediately on starting； received a
violent blow in the small of the back from the butt…end of number five's
scull； at the same time that his own seat seemed to disappear from under
him by magic； and leave him sitting on the boards。 He also noticed； as a
curious circumstance； that number two was at the same instant lying on
his back at the bottom of the boat； with his legs in the air； apparently
in a fit。
They passed under Kew Bridge； broadside； at the rate of eight miles an
hour。 Joskins being the only one who was rowing。 George； on recovering
his seat； tried to help him； but； on dipping his oar into the water； it
immediately； to his intense surprise； disappeared under the boat； and
nearly took him with it。
And then 〃cox〃 threw both rudder lines over…board； and burst into tears。
How they got back George never knew； but it took them just forty minutes。
A dense crowd watched the entertainment from Kew Bridge with much
interest； and everybody shouted out to them different directions。 Three
times they managed to get the boat back through the arch； and three times
they were carried under it again； and every time 〃cox〃 looked up and saw
the bridge above him he broke out into renewed sobs。
George said he little thought that afternoon that he should ever come to
really like boating。
Harris is more accustomed to sea rowing than to river work； and says
that； as an exercise； he prefers it。 I don't。 I remember taking a small
boat out at Eastbourne last summer： I used to do a good deal of sea
rowing years ago； and I thought I should be all right； but I found I had
forgotten the art entirely。 When one scull was deep down underneath the
water； the other would be flourishing wildly about in the air。 To get a
grip of the water with both at the same time I had to stand up。 The
parade was crowded with nobility and gentry； and I had to pull past them
in this ridiculous fashion。 I landed half…way down the beach； and
secured the services of an old boatman to take me back。
I like to watch an old boatman rowing； especially one who has been hired
by the hour。 There is something so beautifully calm and restful about
his method。 It is so free from that fretful haste； that vehement
striving； that is every day becoming more and more the bane of
nineteenth…century life。 He is not for ever straining himself to pass
all the other boats。 If another boat overtakes him and passes him it
does not annoy him； as a matter of fact； they all do overtake him and
pass him … all those that are going his way。 This would trouble and
irritate some people； the sublime equanimity of the hired boatman under
the ordeal affords us a beautiful lesson against ambition and uppishness。
Plain practical rowing of the get…the…boat…along order is not a very
difficult art to acquire； but it takes a good deal of practice before a
man feels comfortable； when rowing past girls。 It is the 〃time〃 that
worries a youngster。 〃It's jolly funny；〃 he says； as for the twentieth
time within five minutes he disentangles his sculls from yours； 〃I can
get on all right when I'm by myself！〃
To see two novices try to keep time with one another is very amusing。
Bow finds it impossible to keep pace with stroke； because stroke rows in
such an extraordinary fashion。 Stroke is intensely indignant at this；
and explains that what he has been endeavouring to do for the last ten
minutes is to adapt his method to bow's limited capa