At the entrance doors there are two curious pieces of wood exactly like spout heads.

So wedded are the Hawkshead folk to this, their familiar fountainhead, that though water is supplied in stand-pipes now from a Reservoir, the folks won't have it, and come here to this spout-house, bucket and jug in hand, morn, noon and night.

" "How was that, Jack?" "Why, ye see, jist before the whale gave in, it sent up a spout o' blood and oil as thick as the main-mast, and, as luck would have it, down it came slap on the head of Grim, drenchin' him from head to foot, and makin' him as red as a lobster.

From the kettle arrangement in the bows came the sound of hot water singing merrily, while from the spout steam issued hissing.