Who trod on the butter?

- The incident described in the passage
The passage describes an incident during a boating trip where one of the characters accidentally steps on a piece of butter that was left on the boat's floor. This incident leads to a series of comical mishaps as the butter is spread around the boat.

- The options given
The options given are "the author," "George," "Harris," and "Montmorency." It is clear from the passage that the author is not the one who stepped on the butter, as they are describing the incident from a third-person perspective. Montmorency is the dog and is therefore unlikely to have stepped on the butter. This leaves George and Harris as the only possible options.

- Why the correct answer is George
The correct answer is George because the passage specifically states that "George had _thrown_ the piece of butter" (emphasis added). This means that George was the one who had handled the butter prior to the incident and was therefore the most likely person to have left it on the floor. Additionally, the passage later describes George as being covered in butter, further supporting the idea that he was the one who stepped on it.

In summary, the correct answer to the question "Who trod on the butter?" is George.