They had reached the door of the mill by now, and Markel hustled Lester inside before he had a chance to say anything further to the boys, although the lad cast an appealing glance behind as though he would have liked again to express his thanks to his rescuers.
"Where do you fellows live?" asked Kurt, peering at them from under his shaggy eyebrows.
"Bayport."
"You're a long way from home."
"We're just on a hike," explained Frank. "We just thought we'd come around this way."
"You'll be late for supper if you don't hurry back."
This broad hint was not lost on the boys. It was clear that the men wanted to get rid of them.
"I guess we'll be on our way. We'll go in for a swim farther up the river so Joe can have a chance to dry his clothes."
This seemed to remind Uncle Dock of the fact that Joe had, after all, saved Lester's life. He reached for his pocket.
"I'd like to reward you for saving the lad," he said, becoming suddenly affable. Joe shook his head, and when Uncle Dock took two five dollar bills from his pocket and offered them to the boys, one to Frank and the other to Joe, they disclaimed any intention of accepting money for what had plainly been their duty.