“How can I?” cried Oliver, as there was a general burst of laughter at this. “I was not there, so how am I to tell your story?”
“I d’know, sir; but you seems to know ever so much more about it than me, for it was so dark and the water kep’ a-rooshin me along—”
“Right to the entrance, where the stream swept you out into the open air, but before you got there you could see the light gleaming along on the top of the water, and this increased till you found yourself in’ the full glow of daylight where the stream rushed out and down toward the sea.”
“Why, did you tumble in too, Mr Oliver Lane, sir?” cried Wriggs, staring open-eyed.
“I? Of course not,” cried Oliver.
“But that were just how it was, sir. How did you know?”
“I only supposed it was like that, my man.”
“Well that’s a rum ’un, for I was washed right out with a regular fizz at last, like a cork in a drain.”
“And where?” said Mr Rimmer.
“Oh, over yonder somewheres, sir, and I warn’t long scuffling ashore, for there was two black fins out, and I knowed as Jack shark’s shovel nose warn’t far in front.”