It was very low just now too, as it generally is in October: there could not be four inches of water where the black lump lay, but on the side nearest him the water was full knee deep.
The thing, whatever it was, was forty yards from him; and it was a cold night for wading.

It might be a hassock of rushes; a tuft of the great water-dock; a dead dog; one of the "hangs" with which the club-water was studded, torn up and stranded: but yet, to Tom, it had not a canny look.
"As usual! Here am I getting wet, dirty, and miserable, about matters which are not the slightest concern of mine! I believe I shall end by getting hanged or shot in somebody else's place, with this confounded spirit of meddling.

Yah! how cold the water is!" For in he went, the grumbling honest dog; stepped across to the black lump; and lifted it up hastily enough,--for it was Elsley Vavasour.
Drowned?
No.

But wet through, and senseless from mingled cold and laudanum.
Whether he had meant to drown himself, and lighting on the shallow, had stumbled on till he fell exhausted: or whether he had merely blundered into the stream, careless whither he went, Tom knew not, and never knew; for Elsley himself could not recollect.
Tom took him in his arms, carried him ashore and up through the water meadow; borrowed a blanket and a wheelbarrow at the nearest cottage; wrapped him up; and made the offending surgeon's assistant wheel him to his lodgings.
He sat with him there an hour; and then entered Mark's house again with his usual composed face, to find Mark and Mary sitting up in great anxiety.
"Mr.Armsworth, does the telegraph work at this time of night ?" "I'll make it, if it is wanted.

But what's the matter ?" "You will indeed ?" "'Gad, I'll go myself and kick up the station-master.