The Buller-Podington Compact by Frank Richard Stockton
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of_the canal you_will like this gentle motion so_much that you_will_be perfectly ready to_begin the second stage of your nautical education ."

" yes," said Mr Podington ." how long did you say this canal is ? "

" about three miles," answered his friend ." then we_will go into_the lock and in_a_few_minutes we_shall_be on_the lake ."

" so_far as I_am concerned," said Mr Podington, " i_wish the canal were twelve miles long . I_cannot imagine anything pleasanter than this . if I lived anywhere near a canal--a long canal, I mean, this_one is too short--I'd--"

" come, come now," interrupted Buller ."Don't be content to stay in_the primary school just because it_is easy . when we get on_the lake i_will show you that in a boat, with a gentle breeze, such as_we_are likely to_have today, you_will_find the motion quite as pleasing, and ever so_much more inspiriting .I should_not_be a bit surprised, William, if after you_have_been two_or_three times on_the lake you_will ask me-- yes, positively ask me-- to_take you out on_the bay ! "

Mr Podington smiled, and leaning backward, he looked up at_the beautiful blue sky .

" you_can't give_me anything better than this, Thomas," said he; " but you needn't think I_am weakening; you drove with me, and_I_will sail with_you ."

the thought came into Buller's mind that he had done both of_these things with Podington, but he_did_not wish to_call up unpleasant memories, and said nothing .

about half a mile from_the town there stood a small cottage where house-cleaning was going on, and on a fence, not far from_the canal, there hung a carpet gaily adorned with stripes and spots of red and yellow .

when_the drowsy tow- horse came abreast of_the house, and_the carpet caught his eye, he suddenly stopped and gave a start toward the canal . then, impressed with a horror of_the glaring apparition, he gathered himself up, and with a bound dashed along the tow- path . the astounded boy gave a shout, but was speedily left behind . the boat of Mr Buller shot forward as_if she had_been struck by a squall .

the terrified horse sped on as_if a red and yellow demon were after him . the boat bounded, and plunged, and frequently struck the grassy bank of_the canal, as_if it would break itself to pieces .Mr Podington clutched the boom to_keep himself from being thrown out, while Mr Buller, both hands upon_the tiller, frantically endeavored to_keep the boat from_the bank .

"William ! " he screamed, " he_is running away with_us; we_shall_be dashed to pieces ! can't you get forward and cast off that line ? "

" what do_you_mean ? " cried Podington, as_the boom gave a great jerk as_if it would break its fastenings and drag him overboard .

"I mean untie the tow- line . we'll be smashed if_you don't ! I_can't leave this tiller .Don't try to stand up; hold on to_the boom and creep forward . steady now, or you'll be overboard ! "

Mr Podington stumbled to_the bow of_the boat, his efforts greatly impeded by_the big Cork life- preserver tied under his arms, and_the motion of_the boat was so violent and erratic that he_was obliged to hold on to_the mast with one arm and to_try to loosen the knot with_the other; but there_was a great strain on_the rope, and he_could do nothing with one hand .

" cut it ! cut it ! " cried Mr Buller .

"I haven't a knife," replied Podington .

Mr Buller was terribly frightened; his boat was cutting through_the water as never vessel of her class had sped since sail-boats were invented, and bumping against the bank as_if she were abilliard- ball rebounding from_the edge of a table . he forgot he_was in a boat; he only knew that for_the first time in_his life he_was in arunaway . he let go the tiller . it_was of no use to him .

"William," he cried, " let_us jump out the next_time we_are near enough to shore ! "

"Don't do_that ! Don't do_that ! " replied Podington ."Don't jump out in arunaway; that_is_the way to_get hurt . stick to your seat, my boy; he_can't keep this up much longer . he'll lose his wind ! "

Mr Podington was greatly excited, but he_was not frightened, as Buller was . he had_been in arunaway before, and he_could_not help thinking how_much better a wagon was than a boat in_such a case .

" if he were hitched up shorter and I had a snaffle- bit and a stout pair of reins," thought he, " I_could soon bring him up ."

but Mr Buller was rapidly losing his wits . the horse seemed to_be going faster than ever . the boat bumped harder against the bank, and at one_time Buller thought they_could turn over .

suddenly a thought struck him .

"William," he shouted, " tip that anchor over the side ! throw it in, any_way ! "

Mr Podington looked about him, and, almost under his feet, saw the anchor . he_did_not instantly comprehend why Buller wanted it thrown overboard, but this_was not a time to ask questions . the difficulties imposed by_the life- preserver, and_the necessity of holding on with one hand, interfered very_much with_his getting at_the anchor and throwing it over the side, but at last he succeeded, and just as_the boat threw up her bow as_if she were about to jump on shore, the anchor went out and its line shot after it . there_was an irregular trembling of_the boat as_the anchor struggled along the bottom of_the canal; then there_was a great shock; the boat ran into_the bank and stopped; the tow- line was tightened like a guitar- string, and_the horse, jerked back with great violence, came tumbling in a heap upon_the ground .

instantly Mr Podington was on_the shore and running at_the top of_his speed toward the horse . the astounded animal had scarcely begun to struggle to_his feet when Podington rushed upon him, pressed his head back to_the ground, and sat upon it .

"Hurrah ! " he cried, waving his hat above his head ." get out, Buller; he_is all right now ! "

presently Mr Buller approached, very_much shaken up .

" all right ? " he_said ."I don't call a horse flat in a road with a man on_his head all right; but hold him down till we get him loose from my boat . that_is_the thing to_do .William, cast him loose from_the boat before_you let him up ! what_will he do when he gets up ? "

"Oh . he'll be quiet enough when he gets up," said Podington ." but if_you've got a knife you_can cut his traces---I mean that rope-- but no, you needn't . here comes the boy . we'll settle this business in very short order now ."

when_the horse was on_his feet, and all connection between_the animal and_the boat had_been severed, Mr Podington looked at his friend .

"Thomas," said he, " you seem to have_had a hard time of it . you_have lost your hat and you look as if_you had_been in awrestling- match ."

" I_have," replied the other; "I wrestled with_that tiller and I wonder it didn't throw me out ."

now approached the boy ." shall I hitch him on again, sir ? " said he ." he's quiet enough now ."

" no," cried Mr Buller; " i_want no more sailing after a horse, and, besides, we_can't go on_the lake with_that boat; she has_been battered about so_much that she must_have opened a dozen seams . the best thing we_can do is to walk home ."

Mr Podington agreed with_his friend that walking home was_the best thing they_could do . the boat was examined and found to_be leaking, but not very badly, and when her mast had_been unshipped and everything had_been made tight and right on board, she was pulled out_of_the way of tow-lines and boats, and made fast until she_could be sent for from_the town .

Mr Buller and Mr Podington walked back toward the town . they had_not gone very far when_they met a party of boys, who, upon seeing them, burst into unseemly laughter .

"Mister," cried one_of_them, " you needn't be afraid of tumbling into_the canal . why don't you take off your life- preserver and let that other man put it on_his head ? "

the two friends looked at each_other and could_not help joining in_the laughter of_the boys .

" by George ! I forgot all about_this," said Podington, as he unfastened the Cork jacket ." it does look a little super- timid to wear a life- preserver just because one happens to_be walking by_the side of a canal ."

Mr Buller tied a handkerchief on_his head, and Mr Podington rolled up his life- preserver and carried it under his arm . thus they reached the town, where Buller bought a hat, Podington dispensed with_his bundle, and arrangements were made to bring back the boat .

"Runaway in a sailboat ! " exclaimed one_of_the canal boatmen when he had heard about_the accident ." upon my word ! that beats anything that could happen to a man ! "

" no, it doesn't," replied Mr Buller, quietly ."I have_gone to_the bottom in afoundered road- wagon ."

the man looked at him fixedly .

" was you ever struck in_the mud in a balloon ? " he asked .

" not yet," replied Mr Buller .

it required ten days to_put Mr Buller's sailboat into proper condition, and for ten days Mr Podington stayed with_his friend, and enjoyed his visit very_much . they strolled on_the beach, they took long walks in_the back country, they fished from_the end of a pier, they smoked, they talked, and were happy and content .

"Thomas," said Mr Podington, on_the last evening of_his stay, " I_have enjoyed myself very_much since I_have_been down here, and now, Thomas, if I were to_come down again next summer, would you mind-- would you mind, not----"

" i_would_not mind it a bit," replied Buller, promptly ."I'll never so_much as mention it; so you_can come along without a thought of it . and since you_have alluded to_the subject, William," he continued, "I'd like very_much to_come and_see you again; you_know my visit was a very short one this year . that_is a beautiful country you live in . such a variety of scenery, such an opportunity for walks and rambles ! but, William, if_you_could only make up your mind not to----"

"Oh, that_is all right ! " exclaimed Podington ." I_do_not need to_make up my mind . you come to my house and you_will never so_much as hear of it . here's my hand upon it ! "

" and here's mine ! " said Mr Buller .

and_they shook hands over a new compact .

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