The clanking of the engine stopped at once, for it was very hot there, and the diversion was acceptable; so, leaving the fine rain dripping from the hop-bine, three men came, dragging their legs after them, threading their way through the poles till they all stood together, wiping their streaming faces with their bare arms, and gazing down at the recumbent figure, at which the bucket-bearer smiled, the others following his example, and ending in a hearty chuckle, in which Smiler joined.
“Shall I gi’e him a bucket, Joey?” he said again.
“Nay,” said the man addressed. “Nobody never give you a bucket, Smiler, when you lay down in a ditch.”
The others laughed, and Smiler winced a little.
“Make him wet outside as well as in!”
“Yah! We don’t want to spoil his red coat,” said Joey; “he’s got it pratty will syled without. Why, he must ha’ been here all night! Here, soger, wake up!”
There was no movement.
“D’yer hear? Right about face! ’Tention!”
“Well, he must have had a good wet! How did un come here?”
“I d’know,” said one of the men. “Take two shillin’ worth o’ yale to make a man like that.”