For probably by carelessness the sluice-gate down by the sea had been left open, and the tide had come up and drowned the works.
The two lads stood looking on for some time, until the gates were closed, and then, as the men sauntered away to their lodgings, Mr Marston joined them.
"What did you fill the dike for, Mr Marston ?" said Dick.
"Yes: wasn't it to try how it would go ?" "No," said the young engineer.

"I did not want it filled.

The gates were left open." "And what are you going to do now ?" "Wait till the tide's down, so that we can open them and let the water run off." "You can't do anything till then ?" "We could begin digging farther on," said Mr Marston; "but as the tide will soon be going down I shall wait.

It is a great nuisance, but I suppose I must have some accidents." The lads stayed with him all the afternoon, waiting till the tide had turned, and getting a good insight at last into how the drain would act.
It was very simple, for as soon as the tide was low enough the water ran rapidly from the drain; and that evening the gates were closed tightly to keep out the next rise, the great dike being quite empty.
The engineer walked back with the boys, for there was no riding.

They had left Solomon tethered where he could get a good feed of grass and tender shoots; but upon reaching the spot when they were ready to return there was the tethering line gnawed completely through, and the donkey was out of sight.
"Not taken away ?" said Mr Marston.
"No: he has gone home," said Dick.