Rude hooks were made by the village blacksmith, and fitted to cart-ropes; another boat was brought to Hernshaw in a wagon, and all that afternoon the bottom of the mere was raked; and some curious things fished up. But no dead man.
The next clay a score of amateur drags-men were out: some throwing their drags from the bridge; some circulating in boats, and even in large tubs.
And, meantime, Mr. Atkins and his crew went steadily up and down, dragging every foot of those placid waters.
They worked till dinner time, and brought up a good copper pot with two handles, a horse's head, and several decayed trunks of trees, which had become saturated, and sunk to the bottom.
At about three in the afternoon, two boys who, for want of a boat, were dragging from the bridge, found something heavy but elastic at the end of their drag: they pulled up eagerly, and a thing like a huge turnip, half gnawed, came up, with a great bob, and blasted their sight.
They let go, drags and all, and stood shrieking, and shrieking.
Those who were nearest them called out, and asked what was the matter; but the boys did not reply, and their faces showed so white, that a woman, who saw them, screamed to Sir. Atkins, and said she was sure those boys had seen something out of the common.
Mr. Atkins came up, and found the boys blubbering. He encouraged them, and they told him a fearful thing had come up; it was like a man's head and shoulders all scooped out and gnawed by the fishes; and had torn the drags out of their hands.
Mr. Atkins made them tell him the exact place; and was soon upon it with his boat.
The water here was very deep, and though the boys kept pointing to the very spot, the drags found nothing for some time.