“Oh, dear!” groaned the monk; “don’t laugh at me, my boys. Can’t you help me out?”
“Yes, I’ll get you out,” cried Alfred, and he waded towards his unfortunate tutor, trampling the reeds down with his bare feet, but sinking in up to his knees at every step.
“Mind you don’t get into a hole, Fred!” cried Bald.
“Mind the big luces!” shouted Bert. “There’s a monster lives among those reeds.”
“Oh, they all swam away when Father Swythe fell in,” cried Red. “You have got to mind your toes. The big eels are down amongst the mud.”
The monk groaned at this, and raised his dripping hands above the water, to grasp with each a handful of reeds.
“The eels will go deeper into the mud,” said Alfred sturdily. “Now then, catch hold of my hands, and I’ll pull you out.”
The monk raised one hand very cautiously, and Alfred seized it tightly and began to back, pulling with all his might; but he pulled in vain, for he did not move his tutor an inch.
“Here, I know,” cried Alfred. “You two come and join hands and pull.”
“I’m afraid I’m too heavy,” said Father Swythe.