covered my
exhausted powers, and, taking the can, I bent my steps as fast as I could
to the pit; arriving there, I lay down on the brink, took a long draught,
and then plunged my head into the water; after which I filled the can,
and bent my way back to the dingle. Before I could reach the path which
led down into its depths, I had to pass some way along its side; I had
arrived at a part immediately over the scene of the last encounter, where
the bank, overgrown with trees, sloped precipitously down. Here I heard
a loud sound of voices in the dingle; I stopped, and laying hold of a
tree, leaned over the bank and listened. The two women appeared to be in
hot dispute in the dingle. 'It was all owing to you, you limmer,' said
the vulgar woman to the other; 'had you not interfered, the old man would
soon have settled the boy.'

'I'm for fair play and Long Melford,' said the other. 'If your old man,
as you call him, could have settled the boy fairly, he might for all I
should have cared, but no foul work for me, and as for sticking the boy
with our gulleys when he comes back, as you proposed, I am not so fond of
your old man or you that I should oblige you in it, to my soul's
destruction.' 'Hold your tongue, or I'll--' I listened no farther, but
hastened as fast as I could to the dingle. My adversary had just begun
to show signs of animation; the vulgar woman was still supporting him,
and occasionally cast glances of anger at the tall girl, who was walking
slowly up and down. I lost no time in dashing the greater part of the
water into the Tinman's face, whereupon he sneezed, moved his hands, and
presently looked round him. At first his looks were dull and heavy, and
without any intelligence at all; he soon, however, began to recollect
himself, and to be conscious of his situation; he cast a scowling glance
at me, then one of the deepest malignity at the tall girl, who was still
walking about without taking much notice of what was going forward. At
last he looked at his right hand, which had evidently suffered from the
blow against the tree, and a half-stifled curse escaped his lips. The
vulgar woman now said something to him in a low tone, whereupon he looked
at her for a moment, and then got upon his legs. Again the vulgar woman
said something to him; her looks were furious, and she appeared to be
urging him on to attempt something. I observed that she had a clasped
knife in her hand. The fellow remained stan