“Ha—ha—ha!” laughed Tom. “Don’t know what a stong-gad is!”
“Hold your tongue, stupid!” cried Dick indignantly, taking the part of his father’s guest. “You don’t know everything. What’s a dumpy leveller? There, you don’t know, and Mr Marston does.”
“But what is a stong-gad?” said Marston.
“Eel-spear,” said Dick. “How long would it take Hicky to mend it?”
“’Bout two hours—mebbe only one. I could mak’ a new pole while he forged the tine.”
“Come along, then. Hicky will leave anything to do it for me.”
“Nay, he’s gone to market,” said Dave.
“Yes; I saw him pass our house,” said Tom.
“What a shame!” cried Dick. “Here, I say, what’s that basket for in the punt?” he added eagerly.
“Why, he’s got a net, too, and some poles,” cried Tom. “Yah! he meant to do something.”