Non-Fiction > Books > London, 1878 - Inland voyage

The Royal Sport Nautiqtie. 29
more desperate ; for the Royal Nautical ^ro^fos^d
that he should take an oar in one of their eights
on the morrow, to compare the English with the
Belgian stroke. I could see my friend perspir-
ing in his chair whenever that particular topic
came up. And there was yet another proposal
which had the same effect on both of us. It
appeared that the champion canoeist of Europe
(as well as most other champions) was a Royal
Nautical Sportsman. And if we would only wait
until the Swiday, this infernal paddler would be
so condescending as to accompany us on our
next stage. Neither of us had the least desire
to drive the coursers of the sun against Apollo.
When the young man was gone, we counter-
manded our candles, and ordered some brandy
and water. The great billows had gone over
our head. The Royal Nautical Sportsme7i were
as nice young fellows as a man would wish to
see, but they were a trifle too young and a