"How very peculiar!" she said. "There must be a hole here. Why, it's a sort of pool, I believe. Look, it's all horrid black mud and water under the dead leaves. What a disgusting mess the barrow is in! How are we to get it out?"
"We've lost all our stones," said Sylvia, kneeling at the edge and breaking off a stick to poke into the muddy depths below. "What a queer place it is!"
"I don't mind the stones, because we can find some more, but I do mind the barrow. Even if we fish it out, how are we ever to wash it? Sadie will be most dreadfully angry, and we shall get into such a scrape. We aren't really allowed to borrow each other's things without asking, and if Sadie turns nasty, and tells, and Miss Kaye hears about it, I don't know what may happen."
"Can't we pull it out and take it to the back drive again, and bring a watering can to wash it with?" said Sylvia.
"We might, but it's so hard to get it. When I tug it only seems to flop in deeper."
"Let me try."
"You can if you like, but I think the stones are weighing it down."
"You go a little farther on then, and let me come to where you are, so that I can reach properly."
Linda crawled cautiously along, feeling her way as she went.
"It seems to be a kind of sunk tub," she said. "Look, the edges are made of wood, and it's filled up with water. Oh, do be careful, Sylvia!" she exclaimed as the latter leaned over to grasp the handles.