As I approached he put them down, Mr Solomon helped him, and together
they lifted up a great stone in the pathway, which covered the mouth of
the well.
There is something very attractive and yet repellent about a well, at
least to me. I always want to look down it and listen to the peculiar
echoing noise, and the whispers that seem to creep about its green wet
sides.
It was so here, and while the man stood talking to Mr Solomon I went
down on one knee and peered into the well, to see, far down, a
glistening round of what looked like a mirror with my face in it, but in
a blurred indistinct way, for there was a musical splashing of water
falling from the sides, and as I bent lower the air seemed cold and
dank, while above it was sunny and warm.
I started up suddenly, for just then I heard a laugh, and recalling the
way in which I had been thrust into the pond I did not care to risk a
kick from him who laughed, or from his companion.
For, attracted by Bunce, who was carrying a long ladder, they asked him
if he was going to gather fruit, and on learning that the well was being
opened they, to use their own words, came to see the fun.
Bunce laid the ladder along the path and went off again to his work,
while the two boys seemed to ignore my presence, and stood talking to
one another and waiting, Philip throwing stones, while Courtenay amused
himself by kicking a coil of rope that lay upon the path.
"Here, Grant," cried Mr Solomon, turning upon me suddenly. "Run to the
cottage and get a candle and a box of matches."
"Yes, sir," I said, going.
"Yes sir, certainly sir, yes sir," said Philip in a mocking tone.
"And, Grant," shouted Mr Solomon, "bring one of the men with you."
"Bunce?" I said.
"No, he's busy. Bring that new man, Isaac."
I ran off to the cottage for the candle and matches, and Mrs Solomon
asked what they were for.
"To see down in the well, I think," I said.
"Oh yes, to be sure! the pump is broken. Tell master to be very
careful. Wells are very dangerous places. I once knew of a well where
four men tumbled down and never came up again."
"We'll take care not to tumble," I cried laughing; and I ran off to find
Ike, who was digging away near where I had seen him before.
"Eh! Good mornin'!" he said sourly. "Is it? I didn't know. Mornin's
seems always all alike to a man as has to dig."
"But how well you're doing it, Ike! It's better dug than our men
generally dig it."