"You'll Be Drowned," They Said.
"Gracious Goodness!" Said I, "I Thought That Half An Hour Ago, But
It's All Right
Now; I can steer." After much conversation I lulled
their fears regarding me, and having received strict orders to keep
In the stern of the canoe, because that is the proper place when you
are managing a canoe single-handed, I returned to my studies. I had
not however lulled my friends' interest regarding me, and they
stayed on the bank watching.
I found first, that my education in steering from the bow was of no
avail; second, that it was all right if you reversed it. For
instance, when you are in the bow, and make an inward stroke with
the paddle on the right-hand side, the bow goes to the right;
whereas, if you make an inward stroke on the right-hand side, when
you are sitting in the stern, the bow then goes to the left.
Understand? Having grasped this law, I crept along up river; and,
by Allah! before I had gone twenty yards, if that wretch, the
current of the greatest, etc., did not grab hold of the nose of my
canoe, and we teetotummed round again as merrily as ever. My
audience screamed. I knew what they were saying, "You'll be
drowned! Come back! Come back!" but I heard them and I heeded not.
If you attend to advice in a crisis you're lost; besides, I couldn't
"Come back" just then. However, I got into the slack water again,
by some very showy, high-class steering.
Enter page number
PreviousNext
Page 184 of 705
Words from 50864 to 51126
of 194943
