'Ah, but I squeedged the water out of his chest,' said Pascho.
'And if I hadn't held the rope,' said Gerans, 'you'd have all been swept into the water and become crowners' sittings.'
'There!' said Pentecost, 'chuck him across a barrel, and let the water run out of him.'
'There be no barrel here; lay him flat.'
'Yes, in the snow indeed. Do you think I want to risk my honest earnings that way? He must be took to bed and hot bricks be put to his feet.'
'Where is he to go to?' asked Pascho.
'To Welltown, of course; where else? There ain't no other house nigh.'
'Let the young lady see un,' said Genefer. 'It be a rare fine sight for the soul to see a man hanging atween life and death. Let her see un.'
The men laid their unconscious burden at the feet of Mirelle.
She looked into the face with mingled sympathy and terror. The figure seen battling with the waves had grown big—human size now, it was no longer an ant. She could feel pity.