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Three Men in a Boat / Three Men on the Bummel

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— 116 —<br />

all <strong>the</strong> people will come from this day’s work; but <strong>the</strong> old men<br />

shake <strong>the</strong>ir heads, for <strong>the</strong>y have heard such tales before.<br />

And all <strong>the</strong> river down to Sta<str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g>es is dotted with small craft<br />

and boats and t<str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g>y coracles — which last are grow<str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g>g out of<br />

favour now, and are used <strong>on</strong>ly by <strong>the</strong> poorer folk. Over <strong>the</strong><br />

rapids, where <str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g> after years trim Bell Weir lock will stand, <strong>the</strong>y<br />

have been forced or dragged by <strong>the</strong>ir sturdy rowers, and now<br />

are crowd<str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g>g up as near as <strong>the</strong>y dare come to <strong>the</strong> great covered<br />

barges, which lie <str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g> read<str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g>ess to bear K<str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g>g John to where <strong>the</strong><br />

fateful Charter waits his sign<str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g>g.<br />

It is no<strong>on</strong>, and we and all <strong>the</strong> people have been wait<str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g>g patient<br />

for many an hour, and <strong>the</strong> rumour has run round that<br />

slippery John has aga<str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g> escaped from <strong>the</strong> Bar<strong>on</strong>s’ grasp, and<br />

has stolen away from Duncroft Hall with his mercenaries at his<br />

heels, and will so<strong>on</strong> be do<str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g>g o<strong>the</strong>r work than sign<str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g>g charters<br />

for his people’s liberty.<br />

Not so! This time <strong>the</strong> grip up<strong>on</strong> him has been <strong>on</strong>e of ir<strong>on</strong>,<br />

and he has slid and wriggled <str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g> va<str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g>. Far down <strong>the</strong> road a little<br />

cloud of dust has risen, and draws nearer and grows larger, and<br />

<strong>the</strong> patter<str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g>g of many hoofs grows louder, and <str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g> and out between<br />

<strong>the</strong> scattered groups of drawn-up men, <strong>the</strong>re pushes <strong>on</strong><br />

its way a brilliant cavalcade of gay-dressed lords and knights.<br />

And fr<strong>on</strong>t and rear, and ei<strong>the</strong>r flank, <strong>the</strong>re ride <strong>the</strong> yeomen of<br />

<strong>the</strong> Bar<strong>on</strong>s, and <str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g> <strong>the</strong> midst K<str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g>g John.<br />

He rides to where <strong>the</strong> barges lie <str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g> read<str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g>ess, and <strong>the</strong> great<br />

Bar<strong>on</strong>s step forth from <strong>the</strong>ir ranks to meet him. He greets <strong>the</strong>m<br />

with a smile and laugh, and pleasant h<strong>on</strong>eyed words, as though<br />

it were some feast <str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g> his h<strong>on</strong>our to which he had been <str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g>vited.<br />

But as he rises to dismount, he casts <strong>on</strong>e hurried glance from<br />

his own French mercenaries drawn up <str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g> <strong>the</strong> rear to <strong>the</strong> grim<br />

ranks of <strong>the</strong> Bar<strong>on</strong>s’ men that hem him <str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g>.<br />

Is it too late? One fierce blow at <strong>the</strong> unsuspect<str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g>g horseman<br />

at his side, <strong>on</strong>e cry to his French troops, <strong>on</strong>e desperate charge<br />

up<strong>on</strong> <strong>the</strong> unready l<str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g>es before him, and <strong>the</strong>se rebellious Bar<strong>on</strong>s<br />

might rue <strong>the</strong> day <strong>the</strong>y dared to thwart his plans! A bolder<br />

hand might have turned <strong>the</strong> game even at that po<str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g>t. Had

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