5. Recap of chapter 14
George,Harris, andJ.passanumberoflandmarksneartheidyllicvillagesof WargraveandShiplake.
However,thedaytakesaturnfortheworsewhentheyattempttopeelpotatoesforsupper,butover-
peelthepotatoesuntiltheyarenobiggerthanpeanuts.TheyattempttomakeIrishstewanyway,
puttinginpotatoeswithoutpeelingthem.Montmorencycatchesawater-ratandoffersittothemento
addtothestew,buttheydecline.Thestewturnsouttobedelicious.
Whentheteakettleshrieks,afrightenedMontmorencyattacksit.Afterdinner,Georgeplaysthebanjo.A
noviceplayer,heisterrible atit.Montmorencyhowlsalong,andHarris andJ.persuadeGeorgenotto
playfortheremainderofthetrip.J.mentionsthatGeorgewaslaterforcedtosellthebanjobecause
neitherhislandladynorthepassers-byoutsidehishousecantoleratehisplaying.
Thatnight,GeorgeandJ.headintothevillageofHenleyfordrinks;Harris staysbehindonaccountofan
upsetstomach.Theyreturntotheboatfairlylate,butforgetwhichislanditisdockedoffof.When
Harris doesnotanswertheircallsanditbeginstorain,GeorgeandJ.starttopanic.Theyonlyfindthe
boatbyfollowingthesoundofMontmorency’sbarking.
Whentheyarrive,aterribly exhaustedHarrisexplainsthathespenthoursfightingoffaflockofaggressive
swans,whosenesttheydisturbedwhentheymooredtheboat.Thenextmorning,Harris doesnot
rememberanythingabouttheswanfight,andGeorgeandJ.wonderifhedreamtit.
6. Summary of chapter 15
• Thenextmorningtheyeatasimplebreakfast.Cleaning
uptakesalongtimeandhelpsJeromeunderstandwhy
womenarealwaysbusy.Thediscussionaboutthe
divisionofworksparksoffanargumentsinceeachman
thinkshealonehasbeenworking.Jeromelikeswork,
admitstolookingatworkforhoursandtakinggoodcare
ofit,butitisreluctanttotakeonmorethanhisshare.on
aboateveryoneassumesthatheisdoingallthework
whiletheothersdonothing.Jeromedescribesthe
mannerinwhichexperiencedsailorsrelax,
7. • Describingtheirexploitswhileacoupleofyoungsterdo
allthework.Theyoungster,Jeromeandhisfriendtook
withthemonce,onlylaughedattheirstories,refusingto
believethem.George,harris,andJ.argueaboutwhowill
towtheboat,themostphysicallydemandingjobbyfar.
TheyeventuallydecidetorowtoReading,atwhichpoint
J.willtowforawhile.WelearnthatJ.learnedtorowby
joiningaclub,butthatGeorgehadsometroublelearning.
Thefirsttimehewentout,withagroupoffriendsona
triptoKew,thecoxswaindidnotknowhowtocallout
directionsandtheyhadgreattroublenavigating.
8. J.liststhedifferenttypesofrowing,aswellasthepitfalls thatnovicesfacewhen
theyattempt torowforthefirsttime.Hediscussespunting,atypeofrowingwhere
thepassengerstandsupintheboatandpropelsitalongusingalongpolethatis
pushedagainsttheriverbed.Puntingishazardousforbeginners;J.describesafriend
whowasnotpayingattentionandsteppedofftheboat, leavinghimselfclingingto
thepoleinthemiddle oftheriverastheboatdriftedaway.
Onanotheroccasion,J.andhisfriendsnoticed anamateurpunterwhocouldnot
keepcontrolofhisboat.Thinkingitwassomeonetheyknew,theymercilessly
mockedhimuntilrealizingthatthemanwasactuallyastranger.Harrisoncehada
similarexperience,whenastrangerthoughthewasafriendandbegan
roughhousingwithhim,holdinghisheadunderwater.
J.concludesthechapterwithafinalanecdoteaboutsailingontheriverwithhis
friendHector.Themenhadtroubleraisingthesail,whichwasverytangled. They
eventuallyrantheboatagroundanddecidedtorowback.However,theybrokethe
oarsintheprocess,andhadtobetowed. theexperiencecostthemalot ofmoney
butasjerome,anypriceyoupayforanexperienceisworthit.
