racted by Bunce, who was carrying a long ladder, they asked him
if he was going to gather fruit, and on learning that the well was being
opened they, to use their own words, came to see the fun.

Bunce laid the ladder along the path and went off again to his work,
while the two boys seemed to ignore my presence, and stood talking to
one another and waiting, Philip throwing stones, while Courtenay amused
himself by kicking a coil of rope that lay upon the path.

"Here, Grant," cried Mr Solomon, turning upon me suddenly. "Run to the
cottage and get a candle and a box of matches."

"Yes, sir," I said, going.

"Yes sir, certainly sir, yes sir," said Philip in a mocking tone.

"And, Grant," shouted Mr Solomon, "bring one of the men with you."

"Bunce?" I said.

"No, he's busy. Bring that new man, Isaac."

I ran off to the cottage for the candle and matches, and Mrs Solomon
asked what they were for.

"To see down in the well, I think," I said.

"Oh yes, to be sure! the pump is broken. Tell master to be very
careful. Wells are very dangerous places. I once knew of a well where
four men tumbled down and never came up again."

"We'll take care not to tumble," I cried laughing; and I ran off to find
Ike, who was digging away near where I had seen him before.

"Eh! Good mornin'!" he said sourly. "Is it? I didn't know. Mornin's
seems always all alike to a man as has to dig."

"But how well you're doing it, Ike! It's better dug than our men
generally dig it."

"Be it?" he said dubiously: "Well, I have punished it pretty well.
Ground's very foul and full o' bear-bine."

"Put down your spade and come along with me," I cried; "they're doing
something to the well."

"All right, I'll come!" said Ike sourly. "Pay me my wage and I'm ready.
Night work or day work, it's all the same to me, and such is life.
'Tis a rum set out."

"Don't grumble, Ike," I said, "on a morning like this."

"Grumble! That ain't grumbling. But I say, young 'un, are you glad I
come?"

"Why, of course I am, Ike."

"So am I then. I s'pose I come o' purpose to work along o' you; but I
miss my hoss a deal. I say, Old Brownsmith didn't like it a bit; but
here I am; and did you know about young Shock?"

"No: what about him? Have they caught him and sent him away?"

"No: they've caught him and give him a decent suit of clothes, so stiff
he can't hardly move in 'em, and he's took on."

"Shock is?"

"To be sure he is; and if he