eing still tethered; and catching on
to a stake, we had the satisfaction not only of feeling ourselves in an
unassailable position, but of knowing that we were effectually blocking
the river for any presumptuous wayfarer who wanted to go either up
stream or down.

After exploring the bunks and lockers and hold of the unsavoury vessel,
Trimble proposed that it would be best for the club to occupy seats on
the floor of the barge, where, quite invisible to any one on shore or
stream, we could hold our meeting undisturbed.

In a few introductory remarks, which were listened to with some
impatience, I explained that things had reached a critical state at Low
Heath. It was the duty of everybody to back up Tempest and make it hot
for Jarman. (Cries of "Why don't you?" "What's the use of you?") We
didn't intend to be interfered with by anybody, and if Coxhead didn't
shut up shying bits of coal he'd get one for himself. (Derisive cheers
from Coxhead, and more coal.)

Coxhead and I were both warm when, a quarter of an hour later, I resumed
the chair and called upon our excellent secretary to read the minutes,
which he accordingly did.

"Owing to the asinine mulishness of Sarah--" Here an interruption
occurred.

"Look here," said I, "you've got to drop that, Langrish. I've told you
already I'm not going to stand it."

"Stand what? Being called Sarah or an asinine mule?"

I explained that I was particularly referring to Sarah.

"Oh, all serene," said the secretary. "We'll start again."

"Owing to the asinine mulishness of S--H, and three between--"

"No--that won't do," said I, fiercely.

"Owing to the asinine mulishness of--" here the speaker pointed at me
with his thumb--"of the asinine mule in the chair--"

I was weak enough to let this pass, and the applause with which it was
received quite carried the secretary off his feet. When he got on them
again he resumed,--

"Jarman's guy was mulled all through. Even Trimble couldn't have made a
bigger mess of it."

Here Trimble mildly interposed, but Langrish, who had hooked one arm
through a ring in the side of the vessel, and had a firm grip with his
feet up against a rib in front of him, was inflexible.

"A bigger mess of it," he repeated, when at last he was free to proceed.
"It was stuck just under the grating of the gym., and was neatly blown
up by Jarman at 8:15 on November 2. The cost of the fireworks was four-
and-six, which the asinine mule, as it