Just as I was in one of my most nervous fits, there was a momentary cessation of the pumping, and instead of hissing and spurting violently from the nozzle, the water ceased for a moment or two and then shot out in a couple of feeble spurts. "It's all over," I thought; "the pump has broken down." But the thought had hardly crossed my mind when the jet came as strong as ever, and I knew that they must have been changing hands, proof of this being the correct idea coming directly after out of the dense mist. For a well-known voice exclaimed-- "Hold on tight, Mr Dale, sir; we're coming by this side, so as to speak you." "Who's with you, Bob?" I cried. "T'other two, sir; Barney and Neb. There's Mr Trout-and-Salmon Preddle at one handle, and the doctor at t'other, with Mr Brymer to relieve while we're off dooty to go and 'vestigate the wittling department. That's so, eh, lads?" "Ay, ay," growled Dumlow. "That's so," said Barney; "and then I'm to take my turn at the squirting, if so be as you can't put it out." "No fear of that, Barney," I cried. "It seems as if it won't be put out." "Oh, it'll have to, sir, 'fore we've done with it." "How is your wound, Dumlow?" I said, loudly. "Hurt you much?" "Don't shout, Mr Dale, sir. I'm a-goin' out to braxfass with a lady, and I don't want her to hear as I've had a hole punched in me, or she'll be thinking about it all the time." "But does it hurt you much?" I asked. "Tidy, sir. Sometimes it's better; sometimes it's worse. 'Tarn't a nat'ral way o' taking blue pill, and consekently it don't agree with you. But don't you worry about that, nor me neither: I arn't killed yet." As Dumlow spoke, the others got carefully by me, and passed on out of sight. Then it came to his turn. "Stand fast, sir," he said. "I don't want to shove you down into that hole. Looks just like my old mother's washus used to on heavy days. She was a laundress out at Starch Green, she was, and--hff!" "What's the matter?" I said, for the man uttered a peculiar sound. "Just a bit of a nip from that there bullet, that's all, sir. That's better now I'm by. 'Tis a bit steamy, though, eh?" "Horrible," I said; "but I say, do let Mr Frewen see to your wound. It isn't right to leave it." "Course it ain't; but I put it to you, as a young gent who's got a head of his own, and got it screwed on right, as you've showed us more'n once; can I go and get a bite and sup, and can the doctor see to my leg and go on pumping, and all at the same time?" "Of course not, but as soon as you've had some breakfast, do have it done." "All right, sir, all right; and thankye heartily for what you say. Why, dear lad, you make as much fuss over me, and my damaged post, as if it was your uncle, or your father, or somebody else. It's very good of you, Mr Dale, sir." "Are you stopping to hargy anything, Neb, old man?" cried Barney, who had returned. "No, mate, I arn't."