said Hal . ' I mind when where that old gaffer stands was Nether Forge -- Master John Collins 's foundry . Many a night has his big trip-hammer shook me in my bed here . Boom-bitty ! Boom-bitty ! If the wind was east , I could hear Master Tom Collins 's forge at Stockens answering his brother , Boom-oop ! Boom-oop ! and midway between , Sir John Pelham 's sledge-hammers at Brightling would strike in like a pack o ' scholars , and '' Hic-haec-hoc '' they 'd say , '' Hic-haec-hoc , '' till I fell asleep . Yes . The valley was as full o ' forges and fineries as a May shaw o ' cuckoos . All gone to grass now ! ' ` What did they make ? ' said Dan . ` Guns for the King 's ships -- and for others . Serpentines and cannon mostly . When the guns were cast , down would come the King 's Officers , and take our plough-oxen to haul them to the coast . Look ! Here 's one of the first and finest craftsmen of the Sea ! ' He fluttered back a page of his book , and showed them a young man 's head . Underneath was written : ` Sebastianus . '
` He came down with a XXXXX 's Order on Master John Collins for twenty serpentines -LRB- wicked little cannon they be ! -RRB-
Boom-oop Brightling Collins Dan Hal King Stockens first night plough-oxen