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           Gobackandfindsomeemptyforty-four-gallondrums,andsealtheirlidsshutsotheycan’tpossiblyleakorslipoff.Solderthemifnecessary.We’llneedtwelveofthem,tenifyoucan’tfindmore.Tiethemtogetherandbringthembackacrossthecreek.We’lllashthemundertheironandfloatitacrosslikeabarge."

           FatherRalphdidashewastoldwithoutquestion;itwasabetterideathananyhehadtooffer.DominicO’RourkeofDibban-Dibbanhadriddeninwithtwoofhissons;hewasaneighborandnotfarawayasdistanceswent.WhenFatherRalphexplainedwhathadtobedonetheysetaboutitquickly,scouringtheshedsforemptydrums,tippingchaffandoatsoutofdrumsemptyofpetrolbutinuseforstorage,searchingforlids,solderingthelidstothedrumsiftheywererust-freeandlookedlikelytowithstandthebatteringtheywouldgetinthewater.Therainwasstillfalling,falling.Itwouldn’tstopforanothertwodays.

           "Dominic,Ihatetoaskitofyou,butwhenthesepeoplecomeinthey’regoingtobehalfdead.We’llhavetoholdthefuneralstomorrow,andeveniftheGillyundertakercouldmakethecoffinsintime,we’dnevergetthemoutthroughthemud.Cananyofyouhaveagoatmakingacoupleofcoffins?Ionlyneedonemantoswimthecreekwithme."

           TheO’Rourkesonsnodded;theydidn’twanttoseewhatthefirehaddonetoPaddyortheboartoStuart.

           "We’lldoit,Dad,"saidLiam.

           Draggingthedrumsbehindtheirhorses,FatherRalphandDominicO’Rourkerodedowntothecreekandswamit.