Now then, said Podington, take your hat, Thomas,
and Ill try todrive.
Podington, applying his whip upon the
plungingbeast.
If Ilived near a canal I believe I would buy a boat
and train my horse totow.
Breach-of-promise cases were his peculiar aversion.
He would not mind it in the least, said he.
Youve got to convince that jury yourself. Buller at
all, and he did not hesitate to show his annoyance.
See; a littleto the right, then a back, then a
sweep to the left and we will begoing the other way. Well, I reckon as soon as I can
trot out and call her. Buller was the first to make the promised country
visit.
I have, replied the other; I wrestled with that
tiller and I wonderit didnt throw me out.
The Colonel nodded naturally and approvingly. Well
settle this business in veryshort order now.
Thus proceeding, they presented a strange sight.
Thats so, said Buller; she leaks like a sieve. See; a littleto the right, then a
back, then a sweep to the left and we will begoing the other way. It was something
horrible, threatening to rise andenvelop him. Theboats generally start about this
time in the morning, and I will goand see about it. But during all these years
neither of them hadvisited the other in his country home. Podington agreed with his
friend that walking home was the bestthing they could do. It is lovely, said his
friend; I never get tired of driving throughthis country. Podington looked at it
eagerly; it was not very smalland not flimsy.
Podington gave ahowl of horror, and the horse, with
high, uplifted head, was obligedto swim.
Do you carry anything to bail her out
with?
Podington said not a word; he expected every moment
to see thehorse sink into a watery grave. They were large, brown, and soft, yet
filled with anextraordinary penetration and prescience.
The idea that he would think of buying a boat made
Mr.
No, said Podington, he isnt an ox; but perhaps I
can stop him. I have gone to thebottom in a foundered road-wagon. Podington, I wish
the canal weretwelve miles long. In fact, Imight almost call it beautiful.
Podingtons clothes didnot fit him, and his own outdoor suit was so shrunken as to
beuncomfortable.
Theboats generally start about this time in the
morning, and I will goand see about it. Podington rolledup his life-preserver and
carried it under his arm. If you cant steer him any other way, said Buller, we must
get thereins.
Then feeling himself growing imbecile, he forced an
equally weakgravity. He had notmentioned the subject of horses to his friend, but he
knew throughMrs.