But no; they followed me and continued their assaults as soon as they
had replenished their caps with the gooseberries that were abundant on
the bushes, over-ripe many of them, and of monstrous size.
"Did you ever see such a coward?" said Philip.
"Like all these paupers," cried Courtenay. "Ha! ha! ha! right in the
ear."
I stamped with rage for his words were true about his aim, though I did
not feel cowardly, for I was working hard to do my duty and keep my
hands from my assailants.
"Give him one in the eye," said Philip. "Bet you twopence, Court, I hit
him first in the eye."
They went on pelting and I went on filling my barrel, dipping with the
bucket and pouring it in, and a dozen times over it was all I could do
to keep from discharging the contents of the pail in Courtenay's face.
Full at last, and I was ready to go up the garden again.
I glanced round in the hope of seeing Mr Solomon or Bunce or one of the
other gardeners; but they were all busy in the upper gardens, while I
was quite shut in here with my tormentors.
"Here, let's get some more shot, Court," cried Philip. "I'll serve the
sneaking coward out for getting me in that row with pa."
"Wait a bit," said his brother; "look at him. He goes down just like a
monkey. He's going to wash his gooseberry face."
He was quite right, for I had laid my cap aside and stooped down at the
dipping place to wash off some of the seedy, sticky pulp before going
back.
"Dirty brute!" said Philip. "I never saw such a coward in my life."
I ought to have been on my guard and not have given them the opportunity
which I did, for as I stooped down there, crouching on my heels, I
placed a great temptation in Courtenay Dalton's way. For as I stooped
right down, scooping up the water with one hand to bathe my face, I
suddenly felt a sharp thrust from a foot on my back, and before I could
save myself I was head over heels in the deep water.
It was not so deep but that I got my footing directly, and seizing the
post at the side tried to struggle out, when amidst shouts of laughter
Philip cried: "Give him another dowse. That's the way to wash a pauper clean."
I was half-blind with the water, as Courtenay thrust my hand from the
post, and in I went again, to come up red hot instead of cold.
He thrust me in again and I went right under; but my rage was not
quenched, and, taught by my experience, I made a rush as if to spring
out on to the dipping-place but instead of doing so I caught at a branch
of a willow by the side and sprang out.