It's years since I've been here.

If one had taken a look round one would have seen the weak spot." They re-entered the punt, and Hickathrift poled them back, being relieved in turn by Dave and Warren, by whose solitary cottage they paused--a mere hut upon a sandy patch, standing like an island out of the watery waste, and here he elected to stay with the rabbits which frisked about and showed their cottony tuft tails as they darted down into their holes.
"How about your cottage, Dave ?" said the squire, shading his eyes as he looked across the flooded fen.
"Wet," said Dave laconically.
"Yes, there are four feet of water yonder, I should say.

You will have to stop at the Toft for the present." "Not I, mester," said the rough fellow.

"I don't mind a drop o' watter." "Not to wade through, perhaps, my man; but you can't sleep there." "Sleep in my boat," said Dave laconically.

"Won't be the first time." "Do as you please," said the squire quietly; and he turned to talk to Farmer Tallington.
"I say, Dave," whispered Dick, "you're just like an old goose." "Eh ?" said the man with his eyes flashing.
"I mean being able to sleep on the water floating," said Dick, laughing, and the angry look died out.
It was plain enough that the water had sunk a good deal already, but the farmers had to face the fact that it would be weeks before the fen was in its old state, and that if the breach in the sea-wall were not soon repaired, they might at any time be afflicted with a similar peril.
But notice was sent to those interested, while the farmers here and there who held the patches of raised land round the borders of the fen obeyed the summons, and for about a month there was busy work going on at the sea-wall with spade and basket, clay being brought from pits beneath the sand upon the sea-shore, carried up to the breach, and trampled down, till at last, without further mishap, the gap in the embankment was filled up strongly, and the place declared to be safe.
Of those who toiled hard none showed so well in the front as Dave o' the 'Coy, and John Warren, and the squire was not stinted in his praise one day toward the end of the task.
"Wuck hard, mester!" said Dave.