AN AMUSING INCIDENT.

Evening Star, Issue 3781, 7 April 1875, Page 2

AN AMUSING INCIDENT.

At Oamaru on Saturday last, an intending passenger who reached the breakwater in time to see the Samson steaming out of the offiing, struck a bargain with a fisherman to take him off to the steamer for half a sovereign. What followed is told by the * North Otago Times’When they arrived at the place where the boat was moored it was found that there were no oars in her, and that she was half full of water. The men jumped into the boat, the water in which nearly reached to their knees, and the ‘ fisherman ’ seized a piece of board and began to paddle vigorously in the direction of the now fast disappearing steamer. After the boat had got a few yards from the side of the Breakwater, they were informed that the steamer was going round the Point, and that they would never catch her. Quoth the ’fisherman’: *1 guess we had better give it up for a bad job.’ ‘All ri°ht,’ replied the passenger, ‘ put me ashore again. ’ This hint was no doubt suggested by* the fact that at every roll the boat gave she shipped mere water, and if they remained there much longer she would fill and go down with them. * What about my ten bob?’ queried the ‘ fisherman.’ ‘Oh, you know I only promised to give you the ten bob on condition that you put me aboard the Samson.’ ‘Well, then,’ said the ‘fisherman,’ at the same time uttering a volley of oaths, ‘ we’ll stick out here till the boat swamps.’ The passenger at once became ;rantio, and took off his hat—a bran new one—and began to vigorously bale the water out of the boat, while the * fisherman ’ grinned, and seemed to enjoy the joke immensely. At last the passenger, seeing that the water was gaining on him, gave a big sigh, put on his hat, and agreed to the * fisherman’s ’ demands. He was irnmedi* ately put on shore.

Mathematical.— 44 Herodotus, my son, what time is it. inquired Mr Spilkms of his son, who had just come home from college. 44 Well, father,’’ replied the youth J pulling out his watch, let x represent U o’clock, and y equal 10 minutes,, ana x — 2y is the answer.” opiltans pondered for a moment, and then said he thpnght it must be about bed time.