"After a while, they raised themselves and looked at one another.
"'Tiring work,' said the other man, with a nod towards the lock.
"'Yes,' answered the husband, 'beastly awkward not being a good swimmer.
How did you know I had fallen in? You met my wife, I suppose?'
"'Yes,' said the other man.
"The husband sat staring at a point in the horizon for some minutes. 'Do
you know what I was wondering this morning?' said he.
"'No,' said the other man.
"'Whether I should kill you or not.'
"'They told me,' he continued, after a pause, 'a lot of silly gossip
which I was cad enough to believe. I know now it wasn't true,
because--well, if it had been, you would not have done what you have
done.'
"He rose and came across. 'I beg your pardon,' he said, holding out his
hand.
"'I beg yours,' said the other man, rising and taking it; 'do you mind
giving me a hand with the sluices?'
"They set to work to put the lock right.
"'How did you manage to fall in?' asked the other man, who was raising
one of the lower sluices, without looking round.
"The husband hesitated, as if he found the explanation somewhat
difficult. 'Oh,' he answered carelessly, 'the wife and I were chaffing,
and she said she'd often seen you jump it, and'--he laughed a rather
forced laugh--'she promised me a--a kiss if I cleared it.
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