'There's no stream flowing,' said another.
'There owt ta be, and there is for sewer. T'can'l be gan'in up t' course.'
'Because t' wind be blawing frae t' east.'
It was true; the loaf of bread which had been placed in the water, instead of taking a seaward direction with the natural fall of the current, was swimming slowly but perceptibly upwards. The yellow flame of the candle was turned towards the locks, showing in which direction the wind set, and explaining naturally the phenomenon. The current was so slight that the wind acting on the loaf had power to overcome it.
'Sho's travellin' upwards,' said the first speaker. 'Sho's boun to seek him aht.'
Into the canal suddenly fell a mass of undermined bank, making a splash and sending the floating light, gyrating and dancing as the wavelets formed. One of the mill-girls, going too near the edge, had trodden on the loosened soil, and nearly fell in herself, provoking a laugh and a reprimand.
'Mind what tha'rt aboot, lass,' shouted one of the men.
'If tha falls in I'm none bound to hug thee aht.'
'I can crawl aht wi'out thy hugging, Bill,' answered the girl promptly.
'Eh!' said another, 'Effie, for sewer thou'rt not bawn to be drowned.'