'John was steadying the pile so, as I might say.' Here he gave the stick a slight shake, and looked firmly in the various eyes around to see that before proceeding further his listeners well grasped the subject at that stage.

'Well, when Nat had struck some half-dozen blows more upon the pile, 'a stopped for a second or two.

John, thinking he had done striking, put his hand upon the top o' the pile to gie en a pull, and see if 'a were firm in the ground.' Mr.Cannister spread his hand over the top of the stick, completely covering it with his palm.

'Well, so to speak, Nat hadn't maned to stop striking, and when John had put his hand upon the pile, the beetle----' 'Oh dreadful!' said Elfride.
'The beetle was already coming down, you see, sir.

Nat just caught sight of his hand, but couldn't stop the blow in time.