Part 16 (1/2)

He made two or three s.n.a.t.c.hes at the stick, but missed it, and his struggles took him farther from the edge into the deep water close by, where the wall that supported the great wheel was at right angles to where we stood.

It was a terribly dangerous and slippery place, but Uncle Jack did not hesitate. Walking along a slippery ledge that was lapped by the water, he managed to reach the drowning man, holding to him his stick; and then as the fellow clutched it tightly he managed to guide him towards the edge, where Uncle d.i.c.k knelt down, and at last caught him by the collar and drew him out, dripping and half insensible.

”Down, dog!” cried Uncle d.i.c.k as Piter made a dash at his enemy, who now lay perfectly motionless.

Piter growled a remonstrance and drew back slowly, but as he reached the man's feet he made a sudden dart down and gave one of his ankles a pinch with his trap-like jaws.

The effect was instantaneous. The man jumped up and shook his fist in our faces.

”Yow'll get it for this here,” he roared. ”Yow threw me in dam and then set your dawg at me. Yow'll hev it for this. Yow'll see. Yow'll--”

”Look here,” said Uncle Bob, mimicking the fellow's broad rough speech, ”hadn't yow better go home and take off your wet things?”

”Yow pitched me in dam and set dawg at me,” cried the fellow again.

”Go home and get off your wet things and go to bed,” said Uncle Jack, ”and don't come worrying us again--do you hear?”

”Yow pitched me in dam and set dawg at me,” cried the man again; and from the other side of the pool the man who had swum across and been joined by some companions yelled out:

”Gi'e it to un, Chawny--gi'e it to un.”

”Yow pitched me in dam and set dawg--”

”Look here,” roared Uncle Bob, ”if you're not out of this place in half a minute I will pitch you in the dam, and set the dog at you as well.

Here, Piter.”

”Give's leg over the wall,” growled the man.

”No. Go out of the gate,” said Uncle Jack; and standing ready to avoid a rush we opened the gate in the wall and let the fellow go free.

We got him out and escaped a rush, for the little crowd were all up by the side of the dam, whence they could see into the yard; but as we sent Chawny, as he was called, out through the gate, and he turned to stand there, dripping, and ready to shake his fist in our faces, they came charging down.

Uncle Bob banged the door to, though, as our enemy repeated his angry charge:

”Yow pitched me in dam and set dawg at me.”

Then the door was closed and we prepared for the next attack from the murmuring crowd outside.

But none came, and the voices gradually grew fainter and died away, while, taking it in turns, we watched till morning began to break without any farther demonstration on the part of the enemy.

”We're safe for this time, boys,” said Uncle d.i.c.k.

”Now go and have a few hours' rest. I'll call you when the men come.”

We were only too glad, and ten minutes later we were all asleep on some shavings and straw in the upper workshop, while Uncle d.i.c.k and Piter kept guard.

CHAPTER EIGHT.