# XIII explained — Three Men in a Boat > Chapter companion for Three Men in a Boat by Jerome K. Jerome. ## What happens The chapter describes the journey from Marlow to Medmenham, with reflections on the historical sites along the river, including Bisham Abbey and Medmenham Abbey. It includes an anecdote about Montmorency's hatred of cats and a story about a fox terrier causing chaos at the Civil Service Stores. The friends encounter a dead dog floating in the water, which spoils their tea, and later experience a bizarre moment when Harris and a pie mysteriously disappear, only to find Harris's head sticking out of the grass. ## Themes in this chapter ### Nature and the River The chapter is rich with descriptions of the river's beauty, from Marlow to Medmenham, and contrasts the peaceful natural setting with the austere lives of the Cistercian monks. ### Humor and Absurdity Humorous incidents include Montmorency's cat encounter, the fox terrier's chaos at the Civil Service Stores, the dead dog floating in the tea, and the bizarre disappearance of Harris and the pie. ### Social Observation and Satire The narrator satirizes the Medmenham monks' hedonism and the riparian boors' possessive notices, and observes the contrast between the monks' grim lives and the beauty of nature. ## Character check-ins ### J. The narrator, who reflects on the river's beauty, recounts Montmorency's behavior, and experiences the shock of Harris's disappearance. ### George George is present during the tea incident with the dead dog and the strange disappearance of Harris and the pie. ### Harris Harris is carving the beefsteak pie when he and the pie vanish, later found with only his head visible above the grass. ### Montmorency Montmorency makes an 'awful ass of himself' regarding a cat, and his fox-terrier nature is discussed. ## Key lines > Strange that Nature’s voices all around them—the soft singing of the waters, the whisperings of the river grass, the music of the rushing wind—should not have taught them a truer meaning of life than this. It is odd that the gentle sounds of the river and wind did not show the monks a better way to live. _Reflects on the Cistercian monks' failure to appreciate nature's lessons._ > Fox-terriers are born with about four times as much original sin in them as other dogs are Fox terriers are naturally much more mischievous than other dogs. _Humorous observation about Montmorency's breed._ > The whole lobby was a perfect pandemonium, and the din was terrific. The lobby became total chaos with a tremendous noise. _Describes the dog fight at the Civil Service Stores._ > I wonder some of these riparian boors don’t claim the air of the river and threaten everyone with forty shillings fine who breathes it I am surprised some riverside landowners don't try to charge people for breathing the river air. _Satirical comment on the restrictive notices along the backwater._ > Harris and the pie were gone! Harris and the pie had vanished. _Key moment of absurdity during the lunch scene._ ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/three_men_in_a_boat_se/chapters/xiii - Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/three_men_in_a_boat_se - All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/three_men_in_a_boat_se/chapters