He had read about them in a book called Magnet Stories, where there was a girl called Theodosia, and she could play brilliant trebles on the piano in duets, but the other girl knew all about leeches which is much more useful and golden deedy.

Oswald tried to pull the leeches off, but they wouldn't, and Denny howled so he had to stop trying.

He remembered from the Magnet Stories how to make the leeches begin biting--the girl did it with cream--but he could not remember how to stop them, and they had not wanted any showing how to begin.
'Oh, what shall I do?
What shall I do?
Oh, it does hurt! Oh, oh!' Denny observed, and Oswald said-- 'Be a man! Buck up! If you won't let me take them off you'll just have to walk home in them.' At this thought the unfortunate youth's tears fell fast.

But Oswald gave him an arm, and carried his boots for him, and he consented to buck up, and the two struggled on towards the others, who were coming back, attracted by Denny's yells.

He did not stop howling for a moment, except to breathe.