11 June, Getting Acquainted

"Ah...like dogs, sometime'. Though they all spook and they all growl and they're a right damn biters." He glanced towards a tree to which they could have the horse tied, though perhaps that was not necessary.

"I'll get ter t' washin' I think." He greatened the distance between himself and the horse again, walking down to the stream where the coat would be soaked and washed proper.

"Aye," Burke said distractedly, attempting to coax the horse closer to the tree. "I'll catch up wit' ye in a moment."

He tugged experimentally on the makeshift harness. The horse snorted again, but then seemed to accept its fate and moved slowly forward.

"That's it," Burke said softly. "C'mon, then."

When the horse was close enough, he looped the rope around one of the branches of the tree. There. That would at least deter the horse from wandering off while they washed the blood from the jacket. Then they could worry about getting the beast back to camp.

"Come over." Pye waited until Burke got close enough. He lowered his new, old coat into the water. He waited and then with a mischievous laugh he took hold of Burke's arm and pulled him right into the water with him.

His free hand still clutched on the coat, unwilling to have it drift away, if the scuffle would have become more intense.

Burke let out a slight shout of surprise at finding himself suddenly tumbling into the water. He stood up, spluttering.

"Jesus-!" he cursed. That water was cold! He caught a glimpse of the mischievous look on Pye's face, and felt a grin spread across his face. So, that was how he wanted to play, was it?

"Gee, lad, ye're lookin' a wee bit warm up there," he said. Grabbing hold onto Pye's arm, he tugged hard. "Come cool off!"

"Burke!" Pye yelped before his balance gave out and he came splashing into the water. He was perhaps somewhat more fortunate as in his attempts to stop it, he had ended up crashing into Burke.

It gave just enough height that his back was still dry. It did not look promising that it might stay so however. "Cold!" He exclaimed. He had known how cold it was when dipping hands inside and being splashed after Burke landed in the river, but being engulfed by the water some. Certainly colder!

He reached out trying to dunk Burke into the water. He was laughing too. His partner had not taken it badly. No. He'd joined in!

With a laugh, Burke ducked away from Pye's arms.

"Oh, no ye don't!" he said. He swept his arm through the water, sending a large splash of water in his partner's direction. That should do it.

Pye sputtered and coughed. The wave of water certainly had him drenching wet. And any part of his body that had not suffered because of it, was equally wet because Pye, in an attempt to get away, moved back and tripped.

He shook his head, sending droplets of water flying off everywhere. "You! I'll so get ye!" He exclaime and though the threat was serious, he could not rid himself of a grin. He had the coat propped over a boulder, that would keep it out of the water and then waded after Burke.

He kept to the part of the river where he could still stand, because swimming, he could not do. Suddenly he pushed forward again in a rather hopeful attempt to bring Burke down with him.

"Oi!" Burke tried to protest as Pye crashed into him. Instead, he got a mouth full of water as both riflemen wound up submerged in water. Burke flailed back into a standing position, coughing. Breathing in water certainly took some of the fun out of their antics.

Pye scrambled to his feet again, now looking concerned about Burke. "You a'right?" He asked, seeing him cough so vehemently. He did not mean to drown him, just drench him and he certainly wanted his partner in one piece and well, when they returned.

He smiled. "You're wetter n' a rat that's been swimmin' its way from England ter Portugal." He drew his hair back, the wet tresses being rather happy to obey.

"Oh, aye," Burke joked between coughs, "an' ye're dry as a bone."

He took a deep breath, relieved when it was air and not water filling his lungs. Relieved, he grinned again at Pye.

"Though, ye are lookin' a fair sight cleaner now."

"As a pickled bone." He smiled and ruffled his own hair, so that it would dry faster. "I've never been dirty!" He proclaimed, as if truly hurt by the accusation. That he was grinning moments after suggested his less than concerned feeling.

"I think.." He began studying Burke. "Last to the bank is a rotten egg! " And pushing the other backwards, he started for the place where he had left the coat.

"Oi!" Bure shouted, scrambling after the younger man. "Ye're a cheat!"

Pye laughed. He glanced over his shoulder for a brief moment, grinned and scrambled a bit faster up the bank. He was soon found kneeling by his coat and shook one more time to have the water fly in all directions.

He sighed with relief. "Rotten egg Burke!" He exclaimed and grinned. "N'.. I don' cheat...I've followed t' rules ...s' not my fault there weren't any rules!"