d into th' haase an' bawled aght "Heigh lads! do come,--
somdy's set th' pighoil o' fire."

Aght they flew an' sure enuff thear it wor reekin away' like a brick
kiln.

"Sleck th' inside first," says Jim, an' in a twinklin one pailful after
another wor splashed in. Slinger sooin wacken'd but he wor fast what to
mak on it,--he thowt he must be dreamin ov a storm at sea or summat.

"Howd on! Howd on!" he yell'd aght "what have yo agate?"

"Do luk sharp lads," says Jim, "ther's somdy inside they'll be burnt to
th' deeath. Bring some watter some on yo."

"Ther is noan," they says, "its all done."

"Why mucky watter 'll sleck as weel as clean, give us howd of a pailful
o' swill. We munnot have th' poor body burnt to th' deeath."

Just as Slinger was rushin aght o'th' door he gate a reglar dooas 'at
ommost floor'd him.

"Nah lads, lets stop a bit, says Jim, aw think th' dangers ommost
ovver,--lets see who this chap is. It's happen somdy at wanted to burn
owd Molly aght o' haase an' harbor."

Slinger brast aght o'th' door like a roarin lion,--but he wor sooin
collard, an' he wor soa bedisend with soft cake an' puttaty pillins at
his own mother could'nt ha owned him.

"Dooant yo know who aw am," he sputtered aght, "Awm Slinger, yo know
me."

"Bith mass it is Slinger," said Jim,--"its noabdy else," whativer has ta
been dooin to get into a mess like this? Tha may thank thy stars tha
worn't burnt to th' deeath."

"Well aw dooant know 'at it means mich whether a chap's burnt or draand,
but awther on 'em befoor being smoord,--did iver ony body see sich a
seet as aw am?"

"Why tha luks like a sheep heead wi brain sauce tem'd over it, said
one."

"He needn't carry a scent bottle wi' him, they'll be able to smell him
withaat," said another.

"Ha shall aw have to get clean," says Slinger. "Aw can't goa hooam this
pictur?"

"Tha'll have to get sombdy to scrape thi daan, unless tha thinks tha's
getten enuff o'th' scrape tha'rt in already;--but aw think tha'd better
goa hooam to th' wife an' tell her tha's comed."

"He's noa need to do that, if shoo's ought of a nooas sho'll find it
aght.

"Well if this is what comes o' being a bobby aw'll drop it, but for
gooidness sake lads, niver split for aw'st niver hear th' last o' this
do."

At last they persuaded Slinger to goa hooam. What he said to th' wife
or what shoo said to him folk niver knew, but certain it is 'at shoo
went an' left him an' lived wi her mothe