y keeping thy tongue atween thy teeth?"

"Yes," I cried; and in the same breath, "Mind the dog! Down, Piter!
Down!"

The man made a convulsive leap as he caught sight of the dog, and his
intention was to alight upon the frame-work of one of the large
grindstones close by his side--one that had just been set in motion, but
though he jumped high enough he did not allow for the lowness of the
ceiling, against which he struck his head, came down in a sitting
position on the grindstone, and was instantly hurled off to the floor.

This was Piter's opportunity, and with a low growl and a bound he was
upon the man's chest. Another moment and he would have had him by the
throat, but I caught him by the collar and dragged him off, amidst the
murmur of some, and the laughter of others of the men.

I did not want to look as if I was afraid, but this seemed to be a good
excuse for leaving the grinding-shop, and, holding on by Piter's collar,
I led him out.

Just before I reached the door, though, I heard one of the men say to
his neighbour--heard it plainly over the whirr and churring of the
stones:

"I've know'd dawgs poisoned for less than that."

"What shall I do?" I asked myself as soon as I was outside; but the
answer did not come. I could only think that my uncles had trouble
enough on their hands, and that though it was very evident that the men
at work for them were not very well affected, it was not likely that we
had any one who would wilfully do us an injury.

After all, too, nobody had threatened to poison the dog; it was only a
remark about what had been known to happen.

All this had taken but a very short time, and by the time I had joined
my uncles they were just entering the office on the upper floor that
looked over the dam.

There were several men at work here at lathes and benches, and their
tools made so much noise that they did not notice my entrance, closely
followed by the dog; and so it was that I found out that they, too, must
have known all about the cowardly attempt of the night, for one said to
another:

"Didn't expect to be at work here this morning; did you, mate?"

"No," growled the man addressed; "but why can't they leave un aloan.
They pay reg'lar, and they're civil."

"What do you mean?" said the first speaker sharply. "You going to side
wi' un! What do we want wi' a set o' inventing corckneys here!"

Just then he caught sight of me, and swung round and continued his work,
w