took the
lead at once, and began to unfasten the chain.

"You can fasten her up again when you bring her back," said the miller,
as he led the way into the mill.

"I do like the smell of the freshly-ground flour," cried Macey, as they
passed the door. "But, I say, Vane Lee, hadn't we better have gone
alone? You see if those two don't monopolise the oars till they're
tired, and then we shall have to row them just where they please."

"Never mind," said Vane; "we shall be on the water."

"I'll help you pitch them in, if they turn nasty, as people call it,
down here."

"There you are, young gents, and the boat-hook, too," said the miller,
opening his office door, and pointing to the oars. "Brand noo uns I've
just had made, so don't break 'em."

"All right, we'll take care," said Macey; and, after a few words of
thanks, the two lads bore out the oars, and crossed a narrow plank
gangway in front of the mill to the island, where Distin and Gilmore
were seated in the boat.

"Who's going to row?" said Macey.

"We are," replied Distin, quietly taking off his jacket, Gilmore
following suit, and Macey gave Vane a look, which plainly said, "Told
you so," as he settled himself down in the stern.

The start was not brilliant, for, on pushing off, Distin did not take
his time from Gilmore, who was before him, and consequently gave him a
tremendous thump on the back with both fists.

"I say," roared Gilmore, "we haven't come out crab-catching."

Whereupon Macey burst into a roar of laughter, and Vane smiled.

Distin, who was exceedingly nervous and excited, looked up sharply,
ignored Macey, and addressed Vane.

"Idiot!" he cried. "I suppose you never had an accident in rowing."

"Lots," said Vane, with his face flushing, but he kept his temper.

"Perhaps you had better take the oar yourself."

"Try the other way, Mr Distin, sir," cried the miller, in his big,
bluff voice; and, looking up, they could see his big, jolly face at a
little trap-like window high up in the mill.

"Eh! Oh, thank you," said Distin, in a hurried, nervous way, and,
rising in his seat, he was in the act of turning round to sit down with
his back to Gilmore, when a fresh roar of laughter from Macey showed him
that the miller was having a grin at his expense.

Just then the little window shut with a sharp clap, and Distin
hesitated, and glanced at the shore as if, had it been closer, he would
have leaped out of the boat, and walked off.