It really was almost more than any human boy could be expected to endure.
"Ha, ha!" jeered the men, as they lumbered by, "be yer boots dry yet, sir?
Wonderful cooling to the brain a wet 'at is--cooling to the feet, too, sometimes!" Dan's blood rose.

He felt he simply had to throw something, or do something desperate.

Betty's basket, still well supplied, was hanging on her arm close beside him.

With one grab he seized the contents, and first an apple went flying through the air, then a paper packet.
Tonkin, the fireman, caught the apple deftly; the packet hit Dumble on the chest, and dropped to the floor.

Dumble himself was too fat to stoop, so Tonkin pounced on it.