"You're very clever," said the plumber sharply; "but just mind your own
business."
As he spoke he sat down with his legs in the well, but Mr Solomon
seized him by the collar.
"You stop," he cried; "I won't have it. You don't go down that well
without a rope round you. Fetch Bunce," he said, addressing Ike.
"If I can't do my work my own way," said the plumber sharply, "I sha'n't
do it at all."
He started up, threw on his jacket, and went off after Ike, while Mr
Solomon stood thinking.
"Such idiocy!" he exclaimed. "The well isn't safe, and he wants to run
unnecessary risks. I suppose he'll come back," he muttered. "Perhaps I
shall have to fetch him. Here, Grant, you stop here and don't leave the
mouth of the well for fear anyone should go near."
He went after the men, and I lay down gazing into the dark hollow place,
wondering what the foul gas was like, and whether I could see it down
below; and I was just wishing that I had the candle and string to try
experiments, and wondering how far the light would go down now, when I
uttered a cry.
My heart seemed to give a great leap, for somebody gave me a rough push
and it seemed as if I were going to be thrust down the well.
"There's a coward!" cried Philip jeeringly. "Did you ever see such a
cur, Court? Thought he was going down."
"Perhaps I did," I replied warmly, as I glanced from one to the other,
wondering whether it was to be war again; but they paid no further
attention to me, and began arguing between themselves.
"You daren't!" said Philip.
"Daren't!" cried Courtenay. "Why, I went down last time hanging to a
rope when it was cleaned out, and there was no water at the bottom."
"But there is water now--twenty or thirty feet, and you daren't go
down."
"Yes I dare."
"Bet you sixpence you daren't."
"Done!" cried Courtenay. "Mind I shall make you pay."
"You daren't go."
"All right; you'll see!" cried Courtenay; and to my horror he went close
to the mouth and looked down.
"You can't go down," I said; "the well isn't safe."
"Who spoke to you, pauper?" cried Philip sharply. And then with a
sniggering laugh, "It ain't safe, Courtenay. You can't go down, and
you'll have to pay me all the same."
"I'm going down," said Courtenay.
"You can't," I cried. "It's full of foul air."
"You mind your own business, pauper," cried Courtenay.
This repetition of the word pauper so enraged me that for the moment I
felt tempted to let him go down, but the next moment I shuddered at the
thought and cried: "It is my business. I was to keep everyone from going near."