“Of course it is,” was the reply. “We’re going to catch the spirit some day, and we’ll bring him here.”
“Ay, do,” said Hickathrift, nodding his head softly. “Well, I’m glad you two hev made it up.”
“Never mind about that. Has Dave been over?”
“Ay, lad. Soon as the ice went away and he could get his punt along he come to me and asked me to get him some wood sawn out; and we done it already. Ice is gone and to-morrow I’m going to pole across and help him knock up a frame, and he’ll do the rest hissen.”
The damage was far more severe at the drainage works; but even here the traces of the fire soon disappeared, and fresh huts were run up nearer to where the men were at work.
One thing, however, was noticeable, and that was the action of the squire, the engineer, and Farmer Tallington—the engineer, after hanging away for a time, becoming again more friendly, though Dick never seemed at ease in his presence now.
These three leaders on the north side of the fen held a meeting with dwellers on the west and south, and after long consultation the results were seen in a quiet way which must have been rather startling to wrong-doer? and those who were secretly fighting to maintain the fen undrained.
Tom was the first to begin talking about these precautions as he and Dick started to go down to the drain one morning early in spring, after a long spell of bitter miserable weather, succeeded by a continuance of fierce squalls off the sea.
“I say,” he said, “father’s got such a splendid new pair of pistols.”
“Has he? So has my father,” said Dick staring. “Are yours mounted with brass and with brass pans?”