"There's a good sup of water atop of it," said the mason; and I noticed then that the ice seemed to look wetter, like newly-washed glass still, but like glass that wants wiping dry. "I'm afraid the ice is not safe," said the school-master. "It's a tidy thickness, sir," said John Binder, and a heavy man, with his hands in his pockets and his back turned to us, stepped down and gave two or three jumps, and then got up again, and, with his back still turned towards us, said, "It's reight enough." "It's right enough for one man, but not for a crowd, I'm afraid. Was the water-wheel freed last night, do you know?" "It was loosed last night, but it's froz again," said a bystander. "It's not freezing now," said the school-master, "and you may see how much larger that weak place where the stream is has got since yesterday. However," he added, good-humouredly, "I suppose you think you know your own mill-dam and its ways better than I can?" "Well," said the heavy man, still with his back to us, "I reckon we've slid on this dam a many winters afore _you_ come. No offence, I hope?" "By no means," said the school-master; "but if you old hands do begin to feel doubtful as the afternoon goes on, call off those lads at the other end in good time. And if you could warn them not to go in rushes together--but perhaps they would not listen to you," he added with a spice of malice. "I don't suppose they would, sir," said John Binder, candidly. "They're very venturesome, is lads." "I reckon they'll suit themselves," said the heavy man, and he jumped on to the ice, and went off, still with his back to us. "If I hadn't lived so many years out of England and out of the world," said the school-master, turning to me with a half-vexed laugh, "I don't suppose I should discredit myself to no purpose by telling fools they are in danger. Jack! will you promise me not to go on the dam this afternoon?" "It is dangerous, is it?" I asked reluctantly; for I wanted sorely to join the rest. "That's a matter of opinion, it seems. But I have a wish that you should not go on till I come back. I'll be as quick as I can. Promise me." "I promise," said I. "Will you walk with me?" he asked. But I refused. I thought I would rather watch the others; and accordingly, after I had followed the school-master with my eyes as he strode off at a pace that promised soon to bring him back, I put my hands into my pockets and joined the groups of watchers on the bank. I suppose if I had thought about it, I might have observed that though I was dawdling about, my nose and ears and fingers were not nipped. Mr. Wood was right,--it had not been freezing for hours past.