The Eddy current., 1898-10-15


engine housel" said /.
'Ail right" answered Dora.
III come too. said Jamie.
Let mo come with youi" cried
Jack.
I'm AFRAID It's rather dirty for your
slippers ! answered. doubtfully.
I'll carry him across" sald bora
she was the biggest.
II was Sunday. 80 we did not race
round the buildings to the engine
house as we should have done on
week day. We walked sedately round.
Jack In Dora's arms.
When We got 10 the englno-house she
set him down.
Nov, take care you don't 20 near
the engine, and black your pinaforei"
she said.
Ihon wc began 10 call. Kitty Kit
tyl Pusa. pussl' hunting IN the cor
ners for the kittens. who we're wild
llttle things and liked hiding behind
anything. The cnglno-house had
warm oily smell, and the floor was
80 black Il was dlnlcult to hunt FOR
the Kittens and not mess our Sunday
dresses We looked In every hiding
place, but found nothing. Then we
stood still and listened.
a talnt mew came through the door
that led into the chan. house. In the
chan-house was woll from which tho
engine drank.
They're In the ehan-houscg cried
Dora, and began hunting behind some
bags OF chan.
Listen again." said jamie.
we listened and heard faint news
from the corner whoro the well was.
They've tumblod into the well and
are drowningl" cried l.
We rushed to the corner and lis
tened.
Yes. there were cries OF dlstress
coming up from the well.
They're In there right enough"
said jamie.
"Llstenl They're getting falnteri
They viii be drowned" cried |. Cant
we DO anythlng?"
We hung over the well. II was COW
cred with an arrangement like a large
box, with n lid on the top We opened
this and the news sounded louder.
Couldn't we tie up big bundle
OF straw and let II down?' / suggested.
Perhaps theyll cling to II and let ms
draw them up"
No, that wouldn't be OF any use
you'd only drown them fastcr' said
Jamie.
Then he listened again. and added:
II don't believe they're In the water
at all. believe they've dropped down
on to the first stage"
We'll" said Dora, Couldn't we eet
them up from thereg Let's drop a
basket down. with a string tied to IL.
and see n thoyll get into H."
jamie and ! ran OF, and soon carne
back with basket and a ball OF strong
string.
| had only just escapes Mrs. Jones'
she was our cook-who saw mo going
out with the basket. and called out 10
know what | wanted with il. bur
was gone before she could stop me.
We tied the string 20 the bankot
and let Il down Into the darkness
Presently We felt II stop. and the new
ing ceased.
We waited a few minutes ana then
drew Il up again, but II was empty.
We looked hlankly at each other.
Can't we get someone to 10 down
with a ladder?" said l.
On a sunday" returned jamie
you wouldn't catch any of the men
going down In their Sunday clothes.
and besides they'd have TO pump az
the bad afr out FIRST"
rs there bad air down thereg" ask
ed Jack. "Will Il hurt the kittonsg"
But no one took any notice of him.
We stood round the wei holplessiy
listening to the news that had re-
commenced.
Then we heard little splash. ana
sllied. iar-on cries
oh dearl There's one fallen right
downl We must do aomethlngl" I
cried.
II don't know what we can do said
Dorai get a candle and put Il IN the
basket alight. 10 let them see what lt
is. Then draw Il up. and let Il down
agaP without the candle. and per
hapa they'll get into H."
was on like a through the
stables. 80 as not TO be seen from the
house. Then as quietly as possible
through the gate wlthous a click OF
the latch. Softly across the bricks. a
moments breaihless listening at the
back door That was Mrs. Jones' step.
carrying the best dinner service up 10
the pantry cupboard. The pantry door
was just opposite the scullery door
where the kitchen oandlestick stood.
but she would have her back 10 Il till