As he spoke he sat down with his legs in the well, but Mr Solomon seized him by the collar.
“You stop,” he cried; “I won’t have it. You don’t go down that well without a rope round you. Fetch Bunce,” he said, addressing Ike.
“If I can’t do my work my own way,” said the plumber sharply, “I sha’n’t do it at all.”
He started up, threw on his jacket, and went off after Ike, while Mr Solomon stood thinking.
“Such idiocy!” he exclaimed. “The well isn’t safe, and he wants to run unnecessary risks. I suppose he’ll come back,” he muttered. “Perhaps I shall have to fetch him. Here, Grant, you stop here and don’t leave the mouth of the well for fear anyone should go near.”
He went after the men, and I lay down gazing into the dark hollow place, wondering what the foul gas was like, and whether I could see it down below; and I was just wishing that I had the candle and string to try experiments, and wondering how far the light would go down now, when I uttered a cry.
My heart seemed to give a great leap, for somebody gave me a rough push and it seemed as if I were going to be thrust down the well.
“There’s a coward!” cried Philip jeeringly. “Did you ever see such a cur, Court? Thought he was going down.”
“Perhaps I did,” I replied warmly, as I glanced from one to the other, wondering whether it was to be war again; but they paid no further attention to me, and began arguing between themselves.
“You daren’t!” said Philip.