Up he would march to the head of the punt, plant his pole, and then run along right to the other end, just like an old punter.

Oh! it was grand.
[Picture: Man and pole] And it would all have gone on being grand if he had not unfortunately, while looking round to enjoy the scenery, taken just one step more than there was any necessity for, and walked off the punt altogether.

The pole was firmly fixed in the mud, and he was left clinging to it while the punt drifted away.

It was an undignified position for him.

A rude boy on the bank immediately yelled out to a lagging chum to "hurry up and see real monkey on a stick." I could not go to his assistance, because, as ill-luck would have it, we had not taken the proper precaution to bring out a spare pole with us.