, let's do something. I hate wasting time."

"Come and tease old Gil; or, let's go and sit down somewhere near
Distie. He's in the meadows, and it will make him mad as mad if you go
near him."

"Try something better," said Vane.

"Oh, I don't know. We might go blackberrying, only one seems to be
getting too old for that sort of thing. Let's hire two nags, and have a
ride."

"Well, young gents, going my way?" cried the miller, from behind them,
as he strode along in their rear.

"Where are you going?" said Vane.

"Down to the mill. The wind won't blow, so I'm obliged to make up for
it at the river mill, only the water is getting short. That's the best
of having two strings to your bow, my lads. By the time the water gets
low, perhaps the wind may rise, and turn one's sails again. When I
can't get wind or water there's no flour, and if there's no flour
there'll be no bread."

"That's cheerful," cried Macey.

"Yes; keeps one back, my lad. Two strings to one's bow arn't enough.
Say, Master Lee, you're a clever sort of chap, and make all kinds of
'ventions; can't you set me going with a steam engine thing as 'll make
my stones run, when there's no water?"

"I think I could," said Vane, eagerly.

"I thowt you'd say that, lad," cried the miller, laughing; "but I've
heard say as there's blowings-up--explosions--over your works sometimes,
eh?"

"Oh, that was an accident," cried Vane.

"And accidents happen in the best regulated families, they say," cried
the miller. "Well, I must think about it. Cost a mint o' money to do
that."

By this time they had reached the long, low, weather-boarded, wooden
building, which spanned the river like a bridge, and looked curiously
picturesque among the ancient willows growing on the banks, and with
their roots laving in the water.

It was a singular-looking place, built principally on a narrow island in
the centre of the stream, and its floodgates and dam on either side of
the island; while heavy wheels, all green with slimy growth, and looking
grim and dangerous as they turned beneath the mill on either side, kept
up a curious rumbling and splashing sound that was full of suggestions
of what the consequences would be should anyone be swept over them by
the sluggish current in the dam, and down into the dark pool below.

"Haven't seen you, gents, lately, for a day's fishing," said the miller,
as he entered the swing-gate, and held it open for the lads to follow,