“Look—look out—friend!” roared Will, as he floundered in mud and water. “Can’t you do better than that?”
“Besht—hic—I can do for you. Might try it again—hic.”
“O, thanks—thanks. Be contented with that trial. There is my boot, stuck fast in the mud, and let her go. Come, friend, make an effort to get along. Stick close to the wall and work your way on, and lean on me. There, you did splendidly then. Try again! There, there! Easy now. O scissors, there goes my other boot! The next thing will be that I shall get my legs in for good, and by to-morrow morning early the water will be over us all. Come, friend, you don’t want to get drowned. Pull away! Steady there! Move on! We are making progress, you see. Again, there! On she goes! Hem—now, once more! All together! There we are!”
There came a series of such trials, and finally Will shouted, “Must be almost there—and—” bump they went against the stone wall at the upper end of the dock.
“Three cheers, friend!”
“Hip—hip—hip—”
“No matter about giving them. Now we will work along to some steps back of a barn. Careful!”
When the steps had been reached Will exclaimed, “So far, so good, friend.”
“Yes—hic—I’m glad—I’ve—hic—got you—hic—so far safe—hic.”
“Got me? You have my thanks. Well, now, you stay here by these steps until I come for you. I will fetch a light. Stay here, now.”