You've got a hammer and some nails in the big barn ?" "Yes," said the squire; "yes, you are right, my man--you are right.
Come, Dick: dry clothes." There was nothing else to be done; and as the bonfire was kept blazing the punt was hauled up, and in the midst of the howling wind and the rush of the water Dick stood looking on, his heart full as he thought of Tom Tallington asking his help away there in the darkness; while tap, tap, tap went the wheelwright's hammer, after his saw had rasped off a thin piece of board.
"That'll do it," he cried at last; and the punt was placed ready for launching when the day showed.
Meanwhile the squire gave orders for the fire to be kept well alight; and fagots of wood and straw trusses were piled on, with the odds and ends of broken farming implements and worn-out wooden shedding that had been the accumulation of years.
The result was that the flames rose high over the wild weird scene, gilding the wind-tossed pines and staining the flood for far, while there was so much excitement in thus sitting up and keeping the fire blazing that it would have been real enjoyment to Dick had he not been in a constant state of fret and anxiety about his friends.
For, living as he did in that island of good elevated land in the great wild fen where inhabitants were scarce, everybody was looked upon as an intimate friend, and half the lad's time was spent at the bottom of the slope beyond the ruinous walls of the old Priory, watching the water to see how much higher it had risen, and to gaze out afar and watch for the coming of boat or punt.
In truth, though, there was only one vessel likely to come, and that was the flat-bottomed punt belonging to Dave, who worked the duck-decoy far out in the fen.

The people on the sea-bank had a boat; but they were five miles away at least, and would not venture on such a night.
"What should I do ?" thought Dick as he walked down to the edge of the water again and again.

"If Tom is drowned, and Dave, and John Warren, they may drain the fen as soon as they like, for the place will not be the same." The night wore on; and Mrs Winthorpe made the people in turn partake of a meal, half supper, half breakfast, and, beyond obeying his father's orders regarding dry clothes, Dick could go no further.

He revolted against food, and, feeling heartsick and enraged against the wheelwright for eating a tremendous meal, he once more ran down to the water's edge, to find his father watching a stick or two he had thrust in.
"Tide has turned, Dick," he said quietly; "the water will not rise any higher." "And will it all run off now, father ?" The squire shook his head.
"Some will," he replied; "but the fen will be a regular lake till the sea-bank has been mended.

It must have been rough and the tide very high to beat that down." "Will it come in again, then ?" asked Dick.
"Perhaps: perhaps not.