In a few minutes Pete stopped at the edge of a hollow, where, half
covered by sedge rushes and bog plantain, there lay a good-sized pool of
clear water, down to which Tom made his way, followed by his companion,
and after taking a hearty draught, which was wonderfully clear and
refreshing, he began to bathe his cuts and bruises, and rid himself of
the half-dried blood.
While Tom bathed his face and hands, Pete stood looking on, till
suddenly the former raised his head.
"Hulloo! Why don't you have a wash?" he said sharply.
Pete made no reply, but stepped down to the water's edge, went upon his
knees, and began to bathe his face.
While he was busy Tom rose, and made the best use he could of his
pocket-handkerchief by way of a towel, and when he was pretty well dry
he went along to where the water lay calm and still in a corner of the
pool. Here, by approaching cautiously, he was able to lie down upon his
chest, and gaze into what formed as good a looking-glass as was ever
owned by his savage ancestors.
The sight the boy saw was startling.
"Oh dear!" he half groaned; "what will Mrs Fidler say--and uncle?"
He stood up thinking for a few minutes, watching Pete, who kept on
dipping his hands into the cool water, and holding them full up to his
burning face; and as Tom looked, and thought that there was no one to
call the rough lad to account, he appeared to be seeing everything about
him with wonderful clearness--there were the long shadows of the pines
cast across the pool with streaks of golden sunshine, in which the
silver water buttercups, with their two kinds of leaves, lay thick above
and below the surface; along by the edge were the branched bur-reeds,
with their round spiked stars of seed-vessels; close by the pinky
flowering rush was growing, and in the shallows the water soldier thrust
up stiffly its many heads. And all the time splash--splash--splash--
there was the faint sound of the water as Pete scooped it up, and bathed
his battered face.
The scene was very beautiful and attracted Tom; but there were dark
shadows in his mind beckoning him away--to wit, his uncle and Mrs
Fidler, ready to ask him why he was in such a plight.
"It's like taking one of the old lady's doses of medicine," he said to
himself at last. "I'd better toss it off and get it over, so here
goes."
He walked back round the edge of the pool, and Pete must have heard him
coming, but all the sign he made was to thrust one wet hand into his
pocket and go on bathing himself with the other.
Tom looked on in silence for a few moments.
"I'm going now," he said.
Pete went on splashing, and Tom hesitated.