Sentence:  Before the sun was at it's highest, I almost gave in (admitted) that the Jalap had me bet (beat), because there I was spending more time running like a redshank to the gripe and <WSD>fustering</WSD> (fumbling) with the galluses and my trousers, than at the mowing. 
Meaning of the word marked with <WSD> tags:  To fumble; to work clumsily.