Life in a Railway Factory Part 17

"Not as I knows on."

"We've had complaints about the others."

"I don't care. Let 'em file 'em. The devils be never satisfied."

"Better have 'em a bit stiffer?"

"They'm stiff enough. They wasn't set level."

"They was as level as a billiard table, gaffer!"

"I could a' shoved my finger underneath 'em."

"I had 'em packed tight everywhere."

"Then you didn't have yer iron hot. 'Tis no good to arg' the point. Take care wi' the next lot, mind!"

"Let him go to h.e.l.l! He'd make anybody a d.a.m.n liar. Key out. Hang on to that spanner. Damp up, and shut the blower off. Fetch the iron trucks.

We shall want some help to get these out o' the way."

"Billy, sing that song, That good old song to me!"

"Now, Jacko! Give us a hand here."

"I can't. My leg's bad."

"That won't hurt your leg, will it? I wants your hand, not your leg.

'Tis all in the gang."

"I got one stuck on the jumper."

"All right. Blind you! We'll do it ourselves. This _is_ a show! Come on, mates! Keep the handles down, and mind he don't tip."

"Give him a blow on that bar to get him off the jumper, can't ya; and don't stick up there doin' nothin'. You ain't heard our mate's new nickname, have you, Wormy?"

"No. What's that?"

"Flannel. Know why that is?"

"No."

"Cos water allus makes him shrink. Look at him! The only curly-headed boy in the family!"

"You hump-backed, monkey-faced baa-boon! You broke loose from the Zoo, you did. I won't hit another stroke for n.o.body, now, d.a.m.n if I do!"

"Get out! I'll spiflicate you!"

"I'll bash the tongs across your head."

"What ya goin' to do? Take that! _Now_ what ya goin' to do? I've had enough of your jaw."

"Let the kid alone, can't you!"

"I'll get my own back on him, before night, see if I don't. I'll drop the hammer on his head."

"Fetch him out, Wormy!"

"Hey-yup!"

_Whizz-z-z._

"Keep that hammer still, will ya! Hit him if you dares! Now go on.

Steady!"

_Bang, bang, bang, bang, bang._

"Whoa! whoa! steady! steady! Light when I tell ya!"

_Bang, bang, bang, bang, bang, bang._

"Blast you! What a' you doin'? You smashed him all to pieces."

"I told you I'd do it."

"Workin' your breakfast-time, there?"

"Goin' to keep on all day?"

"Ain't you goin' to chuck up?"

"How's the balance?"

"What! only just started?"

"Whack 'em along!"

"How many more?"

"Work 'em out!"

"What time is it?"

"'Ere's old Sid with the checks!"

"What's up, Flannigan?"

"Only wants two minutes!"

"Flatfoot's gone by."