He was very big and very heavy, but he reeled when Mr.Wood shook him, like a feather caught by a storm.
"You were foolhardy enough an hour ago," said the school-master.

"Won't one of you venture on to your own dam to help a drowning man ?" "There's none on us can swim, sir," said John Binder.

"It's a bad job"-- and he gave a sob that made me begin to cry again, and several other people too--"but where'd be t' use of drowning five or six more atop of him ?" "Can any of you run if you can't swim ?" said the school-master.

"Get a stout rope--as fast as you can, and send somebody for the doctor and a bottle of brandy, and a blanket or two to carry him home in.

Jack! Hold these." I took his watch and his purse, and he went down the bank and walked on to the ice; but after a time his feet went through as the skater's head had gone.
"It ain't a bit of use.