It might hurt me and cut up the soil.

So I jumped gingerly out, and stood poised with a foot in the water on either side, dreading at any moment to see the stones slip and the tell-tale gleam of the buried weapon.
"If you don't stand properly," said the Dux, "I'll make you sit down.
Come along, young Brown, it's time we went up to school." "How long am I to stay, please ?" I inquired.
"Till you're in water up to the knees," said the Dux, as he turned away, with the faithless Dicky beside him.
Up to the knees! I stood loyally for five minutes, during which the water gained about an eighth of an inch up my ankles.

Then the second bell rang, and things became desperate.
Accordingly I knelt in the water until I could confidently assert that I was wet, very wet indeed, up to the knees; which done, I posted as fast as my ill-used legs would carry me to morning school..