Neddy's face was turned away; he threw himself on to the
bag, rose to his feet, raised it cautiously, and holding it in front of
him with both his hands--its weight was fully as much as he could
manage--was round the curve of the Tower and out of sight with it in
an instant.
At the back of the house there was a space of ground where Mrs. Wiles
grew a few vegetables for the household's use. It was a clearing made
from the heath, but it was not enclosed. Beaumaroy was able to reach the
back entrance, by which this patch of ground could be entered from the
kitchen. Just by the kitchen door stood that useful thing, a butt for
rainwater. It stood some three, or three-and-a-half, feet high; and it
was full to the brim almost. With a fresh effort Beaumaroy raised the
sack to the level of his breast. Then he lowered it into the water, not
dropping it, for fear of a splash, but immersing both his arms above the
elbow. Only when he felt the weight off them, as the sack touched
bottom, did he release his hold. Then with cautious steps he continued
his progress round the house and, coming to the other side, crouched
close by the wall again and waited.
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