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early。
I clapped my hat tightly on my head and ground my teeth。
〃Confound that boarder！〃 I thought。 〃He has been fooling with the
anchor。 He always said it was of no use； and taking advantage of
my absence； he has hauled it up； and has floated away； and has
gonegone with my wife and my home！〃
Euphemia and 〃Rudder Grange〃 had gone off togetherwhere I knew
not；and with them that horrible suggester！
I ran wildly along the bank。 I called aloud； I shouted and hailed
each passing craftof which there were only twobut their crews
must have been very inattentive to the woes of landsmen； or else
they did not hear me； for they paid no attention to my cries。
I met a fellow with an axe on his shoulder。 I shouted to him
before I reached him：
〃Hello！ did you see a boata house； I mean；floating up the
river？〃
〃A boat…house？〃 asked the man。
〃No； a house…boat；〃 I gasped。
〃Didn't see nuthin' like it；〃 said the man； and he passed on； to
his wife and home； no doubt。 But me！ Oh； where was my wife and my
home？
I met several people； but none of them had seen a fugitive canal…
boat。
How many thoughts came into my brain as I ran along that river
road！ If that wretched boarder had not taken the rudder for an
ironing table he might have steered in shore！ Again and again I
confoundedas far as mental ejaculations could do ithis
suggestions。
I was rapidly becoming frantic when I met a person who hailed me。
〃Hello！〃 he said； 〃are you after a canal…boat adrift？〃
〃Yes；〃 I panted。
〃I thought you was；〃 he said。 〃You looked that way。 Well； I can
tell you where she is。 She's stuck fast in the reeds at the lower
end o' Peter's Pint。〃
〃Where's that？〃 said I。
〃Oh； it's about a mile furder up。 I seed her a…driftin' up with
the tidebig flood tide； to…dayand I thought I'd see somebody
after her； afore long。 Anything aboard？〃
Anything！
I could not answer the man。 Anything； indeed！ I hurried on up the
river without a word。 Was the boat a wreck？ I scarcely dared to
think of it。 I scarcely dared to think at all。
The man called after me and I stopped。 I could but stop； no matter
what I might hear。
〃Hello； mister；〃 he said； 〃got any tobacco？〃
I walked up to him。 I took hold of him by the lapel of his coat。
It was a dirty lapel； as I remember even now； but I didn't mind
that。
〃Look here；〃 said I。 〃Tell me the truth； I can bear it。 Was that
vessel wrecked？〃
The man looked at me a little queerly。 I could not exactly
interpret his expression。
〃You're sure you kin bear it？〃 said he。
〃Yes；〃 said I； my hand trembling as I held his coat。
〃Well； then；〃 said he； 〃it's mor'n I kin；〃 and he jerked his coat
out of my hand； and sprang away。 When he reached the other side of
the road； he turned and shouted at me； as though I had been deaf。
〃Do you know what I think？〃 he yelled。 〃I think you're a darned
lunatic；〃 and with that he went his way。
I hastened on to Peter's Point。 Long before I reached it； I saw
the boat。
It was apparently deserted。 But still I pressed on。 I must know
the worst。 When I reached the Point； I found that the boat had run
aground； with her head in among the long reeds and mud； and the
rest of her hull lying at an angle from the shore。
There was consequently no way for me to get on board； but to wade
through the mud and reeds to her bow； and then climb up as well as
I could。
This I did； but it was not easy to do。 Twice I sank above my knees
in mud and water； and had it not been for reeds； masses of which I
frequently clutched when I thought I was going over； I believe I
should have fallen down and come to my death in that horrible
marsh。 When I reached the boat； I stood up to my hips in water and
saw no way of climbing up。 The gang…plank had undoubtedly floated
away； and if it had not； it would have been of no use to me in my
position。
But I was desperate。 I clasped the post that they put in the bow
of canal…boats； I stuck my toes and my finger…nails in the cracks
between the boardshow glad I was that the boat was an old one and
had cracks！and so； painfully and slowly； slipping part way down
once or twice； and besliming myself from chin to foot； I climbed up
that post and scrambled upon deck。 In an instant； I reached the
top of the stairs； and in another instant I rushed below。
There sat my wife and our boarder； one on each side of the dining…
room table； complacently playing checkers！
My sudden entrance startled them。 My appearance startled them
still more。
Euphemia sprang to her feet and tottered toward me。
〃Mercy！〃 she exclaimed； 〃has anything happened？〃
〃Happened！〃 I gasped。
〃Look here；〃 cried the boarder； clutching me by the arm； 〃what a
condition you're in。 Did you fall in？〃
〃Fall in！〃 said I。
Euphemia and the boarder looked at each other。 I looked at them。
Then I opened my mouth in earnest。
〃I suppose you don't know；〃 I yelled； 〃that you have drifted away！〃
〃By George！〃 cried the boarder； and in two bounds he was on deck。
Dirty as I was； Euphemia fell into my arms。 I told her all。 She
hadn't known a bit of it！
The boat had so gently drifted off； and had so gently grounded
among the reeds； that the voyage had never so much as disturbed
their games of checkers。
〃He plays such a splendid game；〃 Euphemia sobbed； 〃and just as you
came； I thought I was going to beat him。 I had two kings and two
pieces on the next to last row； and you are nearly drowned。 You'll
get your death of coldandand he had only one king。〃
She led me away and I undressed and washed myself and put on my
Sunday clothes。
When I reappeared I went out on deck with Euphemia。 The boarder
was there； standing by the petunia bed。 His arms were folded and
he was thinking profoundly。 As we approached； he turned toward us。
〃You were right about that anchor；〃 he said； 〃I should not have
hauled it in； but it was such a little anchor that I thought it
would be of more use on board as a garden hoe。〃
〃A very little anchor will sometimes do very well；〃 said I；
cuttingly； 〃when it is hooked around a tree。〃
〃Yes； there is something in that；〃 said he。
It was now growing late； and as our agitation subsided we began to
be hungry。 Fortunately； we had everything necessary on board； and；
as it really didn't make any difference in our household economy；
where we happened to be located； we had supper quite as usual。 In
fact； the kettle had been put on to boil during the checker…
playing。
After supper； we went on deck to smoke； as was our custom； but
there was a certain coolness between me and our boarder。
Early the next morning I arose and went upstairs to consider what
had better be done； when I saw the boarder standing on shore； near
by。
〃Hello！〃 he cried； 〃the tide's down and I got ashore without any
trouble。 You stay where you are。 I've hired a couple of mules to
tow the boat back。 They'll be here when the tide rises。 And；
hello！ I've found the gang…plank。 It floated ashore about a
quarter of a mile below here。〃
In the course of the afternoon the mules and two men with a long
rope appeared； and we were then towed back to where we belo