IV WATER-WALLOPERS 195 



mazed-heads, what tries to lord it over ee, don' 

 know it. But I've a-proved. . . . Look out, 

 you 1 Put her bows to it, Thic swell's going to 

 break outside. 'Tis shoal-water in here.' 



Three breaking waves passed under us, making 

 the boat sit on her stern like a dog upon its 

 haunches. 'That's right!' said Benjie. 'I don't 

 want a bathe wi' my clothes on, an' I'm certain 

 sure I hain't going to undress an' make an 

 exhibition o' my nakedness like they there summer 

 water-wallopers.' 



From the old sack that he usually carries over 

 his shoulder Benjie drew out an implement not 

 unlike a short reaping hook, with a handle at each 

 end, and proceeded to whet it on a flat, rough- 

 grained pebble. 'Don' know what that's for, do 

 'ee?' he asked, making the motions of a spoke- 

 shave. 'You'll see, please God, afore tliis 

 afternoon's out, if what I wants it for is still 

 where I lef it. Ah ! nobody don' know what I 

 got in my bag o' mysteries. But they want to. 

 Back t'other day one o' they papern-collared poops 

 stops me up over cliff : "Hi, ol' fellah ! what have 

 you got in your sack?" 



'"Hullo, young 'un!" says I, "what you got 

 in your pockets? When you turns out they, I'll 



