Life in a Railway Factory Part 10

"Wha's the trouble?"

"Top cylinder busted, ram cracked, and the crown of the furnace fell in."

"How did that happen?"

"Night chaps, I s'pose. 'Twas done when we got here this mornin'."

"You're out for the rest o' the wik then. Set yer mind at rest on that.

d.a.m.n it! Everything happens on nights. This blasted night work's a nuisance. Go and tell Deep Sea and fetch the brickies, and get they on to't. Wher's yer mates?"

"Waitin' instructions."

"They can go home, and stop ther' if tha likes. Got nothin' for 'em to do. Go and tell 'em."

"Sign this order, sir."

"Come on then, quick! No time to mess about with you. h.e.l.lo! Bailey's Best! Wha's this for?"

"Leg irons."

"You don't want best for them. Cable's good enough for they. What ya thinkin' about?"

"Have a look at this 'ere die, guvnor?"

"Wha's up wi' he?"

"Wants dressin' out, or else re-cuttin'."

"Spit in him, and get yer iron hot!"

"Wanted on the telephone, quick! Number fifteen shop."

"Got no c.o.ke out at the hip, gaffer!"

"The water tank's half empty."

"The gla.s.s on the boiler's smashed."

"Please, sir, the chargeman's out, and he got the key of the box."

"And my mate bin an' squished the top of his finger half off."

"d.a.m.n good job, too! How many more on ya?"

"Are you coming to answer number fifteen?"

"Oh, be G.o.d!"

"Another day doin' nothin'. You can never start till the middle o' the wik."

"Steady on with that oil, Laudy! Steady on, I tell you! He'll go off directly."

"_BANG!_"

"There! What did I tell you!"

"Oh, Christ! My eyes got it."

"Serves you d.a.m.n well right! I told you on it. You got the front half out now. Get some oily waste."

"There's plenty here."

"You haven't got the back stopped up yet. Get some wet sand and stop that hole up. Now then! Be quick with you!"

"Steady on a bit, then! I don't want to get burned to death."

"Serve you right if you was to!"

"Steady on, I say! d.a.m.n well do it yourself then! I'm not going to get myself burned."

"I shut him off. Make haste with you. Ya ready?"

"Right."

_Foo-oo-oo-oo-oo._

"What a blasted smoke! Shut some of that oil off."

"Let it alone! That won't hurt. We wants to get on."

"It gets down my inside. I shall spew in a minute."

"That'll do you good."

"Shut some of it off."

"Let it alone, I tell you!"

"I'm not going to be pizened."

"'Tis no worse for you than 'tis for me."

"I can't see two yards."

"h.e.l.lo! h.e.l.lo! What the h.e.l.l's on there?"

"'Sweep! Sweep! Sweep!"

"Steady on with that oil, mate! We gets all the smoke here."