Uncle Dick nodded, for he felt that it would be better for someone else
to speak; but the man got up, scowled at Uncle Bob, and when he held out
a couple of half-crowns to him to buy beer to drink our healths the
fellow made a derisive gesture, walked to his stone, and sat down.

"Just as they like," said Uncle Dick. "We apologised and behaved like
gentlemen. If they choose to behave like blackguards, let them. Come
along."

We turned to the door, my fate, as usual, being to come last; and as we
passed through not a head was turned, every man pressing down some steel
implement upon his whirling stone, and making it shriek, and, in spite
of the water in which the wheel revolved, send forth a shower of sparks.

The noise was deafening, but as we passed into the yard on the way to
the lane the grinding suddenly ceased, and when we had the gate well
open the men had gathered at the door of the works, and gave vent to a
savage hooting and yelling which continued after we had passed through,
and as we went along by the side of the dam we were saluted by a shower
of stones and pieces of iron thrown from the yard.

"Well," said Uncle Bob, "this is learning something with a vengeance. I
didn't think we had such savages in Christian England."

By this time we were out of the reach of the men, and going on towards
the top of the dam, when Uncle Dick, who had been looking very serious
and thoughtful, said:

"I'm sorry, very sorry this has happened. It has set these men against
us."

"No," said Uncle Jack quietly; "the mischief was done before we came.
This place has been to let for a long time."

"Yes," said Uncle Bob, "that's why we got it so cheaply."

"And," continued Uncle Jack, "these fellows have had the run of the
works to do their grinding for almost nothing. They were wild with us
for taking the place and turning them out."

"Yes," said Uncle Dick, "that's the case, no doubt; but I'm very sorry I
began by hurting that fellow all the same."

"I'm not, Uncle Dick," I said, as I compressed my lips with pain. "They
are great cowards or they would not have thrown a piece of iron at me;"
and I laid my hand upon my shoulder, to draw it back wet with blood.

CHAPTER FOUR.

OUR ENGINE.

"Bravo, Spartan!" cried Uncle Bob, as he stood looking on, when, after
walking some distance, Uncle Dick insisted upon my taking off my jacket
in a lane and having the place bathed.

"Oh, it's nothing," I said, "only it