human
And how's your lame arm, mester?
gpt
Getting better fast, Dave, my man.
human
And with two holes in it, mester?
gpt
Yes, with two holes in it.
human
But are they both getting better?
gpt
Why, you've been told a dozen times over that they are!
human
Nay, Mester Dick, I know'd as one hole was getting reight, but Mester Marston here nivver said as both weer. I'm straange and glad. Heered aught yet 'bout him as did it?
gpt
No, my man, and don't want to.
human
Hark at that, Mester Dick! Why, if any one had shot at me, and hot me as they did him, I'd have found him out somehow afore now. Mebbe I shall find this out mysen.
gpt
Why, you're not trying, Dave.
human
Not trying, lad! Nay, but I am, and I shall find him yet some day. Look here, boys. If you want to find out anything like that, you mustn't go splashing about among the reeds, or tug-slugging through the bog-holes, or he hears you coming, and goos and hides. You must sit down among the bushes, and wait and wait quiet, like a man does when he wants to get the ducks, and by-and-by him as did it comes along. Dessay I shall catch him one of these days, and if I do, and I've got my pole with me, I'll throost him under water and half-drownd him.
gpt
Never mind about all that, Dave. What are you going to do to-day?
human
Me, lad! Oh, nowt! I've brote a few eggs for the missus, and I shall tak' that can o' powder back wi' me, and then set down and go on makkin soom new coy-nets.
gpt
That's his gammon, Mr Marston,
human
Nay, nay, mester, it's solemn truth.
gpt
Every bit of it. He's come on purpose to ask us to go out with him.
human
Nay, nay, nay, lads, said Dave in an ill-used tone.
gpt
I did think o' asking if Mester Marston here would like to try for some eels up in the long shallows by Popley Watter, for they be theer as thick as herrin', bubblin' up and slithering in the mud.
human
Let's go, then, Mr Marston. Eel-spearing,
gpt
But I could not use an eel-spear,
human
But Tom and I could do the spearing, and you could put the eels in the basket.
gpt
When you caught them,
human
Oh, we should be sure to catch some! Shouldn't we, Dave?
gpt
Ay, theer's plenty of 'em, mester.
human
Let's go, then, cried Dick excitedly;
gpt
Nay, but yow weant,
human
Why not?
gpt
Mester Hickathrift has got the stong-gad to mend. One of the tines is off, and it wants a noo ash pole.
human
Here, stop a moment, said Marston, laughingly interrupting a groan of disgust uttered by the boys;
gpt
Ha--ha--ha! laughed Tom.
human
Don't know what a stong-gad is!
gpt
Hold your tongue, stupid! cried Dick indignantly, taking the part of his father's guest.
human
You don't know everything. What's a dumpy leveller? There, you don't know, and Mr Marston does.
gpt
But what is a stong-gad?
human
Eel-spear, said Dick.
gpt
How long would it take Hicky to mend it?
human
Come along, then. Hicky will leave anything to do it for me.
gpt
Nay, he's gone to market,
human
Yes; I saw him pass our house,
gpt
What a shame! cried Dick.
human
Here, I say, what's that basket for in the punt?
gpt
Why, he's got a net, too, and some poles, cried Tom.
human
Yah! he meant to do something.
gpt
Why, of course he did, cried Dick, running down to the boat.
human
Now, then, Dave, what's it to be?
gpt
Oh, nowt, Mester Dick! I thought to put a net in, and a pole or two, and ask if you'd care to go and get a few fish, but Mester Marston's too fine a gentleman to care for ought o' the sort.
human
Oh, no, I'm not! said Marston.
gpt
I should enjoy it, boys, above all things.
human
There, Dave, now then! What is it--a drag-net?
gpt
Nay, Mester Dick, on'y a bit of a new.
human
But where are you going?
gpt
I thowt o' the strip 'tween Long Patch and Bootherboomp's Roostens.
human
Here, stop a moment, cried the engineer.
gpt
I've heard that name before. Who was Mr Bootherboomp?
human
Hi--hi--hi! hecker--hecker--hecker. Heigh!