For that flopping kep' up steady, and a lot of splashing too.

I mebby orter mentioned sooner it had been a dry summer and they was only three or four feet of water in our cistern, and Hank wasn't in scarcely up to his big hairy chest.

So when Elmira says the cistern is full of fish, that woman opens the trap door and looks in.

Hank thinks it's Elmira come to get him out.

He allows he'll keep quiet in there and make believe he is drowned and give her a good scare and make her sorry fur him.