So we're going to turn the sea off the land again, and drain the fresh water off as well, so as to turn this wild waste into fertile land.

Do you hear, Dick ?" "Yes, father, I hear," said the lad; and he looked at Dave and John Warren, in whose boat he was, and read incredulity there; and as he gazed over the inundated fen, and thought of fishing, and shooting, and boating there, he felt himself thoroughly on the fen-men's side, while, feeling ashamed of this, he bent over the boat side, scooped up some water in his hand and drank, but only to exclaim, "Ugh!" "Ah! what does it taste like, Dick ?" said the squire.
"Half salt, father." "Then it is the sea broke in," said the squire.

"Ahoy! all right!" he shouted, standing up and waving his cap.

"Shout, Dick, and let your mother see you're here.

Come, cheer up, Mrs Tallington; there's a warm welcome for you yonder from the wife; the water will soon go down, and we're going to try and protect ourselves from such mischief coming again." The squire was right; there was a warm welcome waiting for the homeless neighbours, to whom, after a good, snug, and hearty breakfast, everything looked very different from what it had seemed during the long dark stormy watches of the night.
[Wall, in fen-lands, the artificial bank or ridge of clay raised to keep back river, drain, or sea.].