human
Shall we get in, Dave?
gpt
Get in, lad! Why, what for?
human
Now, Dave, don't go on like that, cried Dick impatiently.
gpt
Let's get on, there's a good fellow. I do want to see you work the decoy.
human
Oh, you don't care for that! 'Sides, I want to go to Hickathrift's to see his dunky pigs.
gpt
Nonsense! What do you want to see the dunks for?
human
Thinking o' keeping a pig o' my own out thar, lads. It's rayther lonesome at times; and, he added quite seriously,
gpt
What, with a place like a jolly island all to yourself, where you live like a Robinson Crusoe and can keep tame magpies and anything you like, and your boat, and your dog, and eel-spear?
human
And nets,
gpt
And fishing-lines,
human
And gun,
gpt
Ay, lads, said Dave gravely;
human
Oh, I should like that!
gpt
Nay, lad, yow wouldn't. It would scar yow. Then o' soft warm nights sometimes the frogs begins, and they go on crying and piping all round you for hours.
human
Pooh! said Tom;
gpt
And then o' still nights theer's the will o' the wipses going about and dancing over the holes in the bog.
human
I say, Dave, what is a will o' the wisp really like?
gpt
What! heven't you niver seen one, lad?
human
No; you see we've always been away at school. I can remember one of our men--Diggles it was--pointing out one on a dark night when I was quite young, and I saw some kind of light, and I was such a little fellow then that I ran in--frightened.
gpt
Ay, they do frecken folk, said Dave, putting a piece of brown gum in his mouth;
human
Like! why, they're only lights,
gpt
They'm seem to you like lights, but they be kind o' spirits, said Dave solemnly;
human
But, Dave, never mind the will o' the wisps. Come on to the 'coy.
gpt
Nay, it's no use to go there; the nets that goes over the pipes has been charmed [gnawed] by the rats.
human
Yes, I know, cried Dick, laughing;
gpt
Look here, Dave, now no nonsense! Want some more powder?
human
Nay, I don't want no poother,
gpt
Do you want some lead to melt down? I'll give you a big lump.
human
Nay, I don't want no poother, and I don't want no lead, said Dave in an ill-used tone.
gpt
I can buy what I want.
human
He does want it, Dick.
gpt
Nay, I don't, lad; and things a man do want nobody asks him to hev.
human
Why, what do you want, Dave?
gpt
Oh, nowt! I don't want nowt. But there is times when a man's a bit ill out there in the fen, and he gets thinking as a drop o' sperrits 'd do him good. But I d'n know.
human
All right, Dave! I won't forget, said Dick.
gpt
Jump in, Tom.
human
Nay, what's the good?
gpt
All right, Tom! He's going to take us to the 'coy.