“Now then, all together⁠—shove!” cried the voices, and the huge surface of the wall, sprinkled with snow and creaking with frost, was seen swaying in the gloom of the night. The lower stakes cracked more and more and at last the wall fell, and with it the men who had been pushing it. Loud, coarse laughter and joyous shouts ensued.

“Now then, catch hold in twos! Hand up the lever! That’s it.⁠ ⁠… Where are you shoving to?”

“Now, all together! But wait a moment, boys⁠ ⁠… With a song!”

All stood silent, and a soft, pleasant velvety voice began to sing. At the end of the third verse as the last note died away, twenty voices roared out at once: “Oo-oo-oo-oo! That’s it. All together! Heave away, boys!⁠ ⁠…” but despite their united efforts the wattle hardly moved, and in the silence that followed the heavy breathing of the men was audible.