She laid a hand on 'Dolph's collar and pressed him down in the long grass, commanding him to be quiet, whilst she and the boy wriggled away towards an alder bush that stood a furlong back from the bank.
Stretched at length behind the bush, she had, between the fork of its stem, a clear view of the approaching boat.

Its well coverings were loose, and by the upper lock gate the steersman laid it close along shore and put out a gang-plank.

His mate, after fitting a nosebag on the horse, came at a call to assist him, and together they lifted out a painted wooden steed wrapped in straw, and carried it to the store.
Having deposited it there, they returned and unloaded another.

Five horses they disembarked and housed thus; and then, like men relieved of a job, spat on their hands and turned to work their boat down through the locks.

For twenty minutes the children lay prone and watched them, Tilda still keeping a hand on the scruff of 'Dolph's neck.