His triumph had been letting the water out.

However, he would see what could be done.
We went down into the shrubbery.

About a foot of water lay on the ground, promising great fertility some day, but decidedly muddy-looking to-day.
"The thing will be to bung up the hole first," said Dicky.
So we set to work to hammer up the end of the zinc pipe and stuff the aperture round with sods and stones.

I even sacrificed my cap to the good cause.
The bell began to ring before we had well completed the task.

"That ought to keep any more from running out," said Dicky.