“Say, coot, lad, coot; don’t chop your words short; sounds as if you were calling puss wi’ your cat.”
“Well, then I don’t want to coot up the boat, only to fit my machine in when it’s ready, and propel the boat that way.”
“Oh, I see,” said the miller, scratching his big head. “You don’t want to coot her aboot.”
“No, not at all; I won’t even injure the paint.”
“Hum, well, I don’t know what to say, lad. You wouldn’t knock her aboot?”
“No; only bring my machine and fit it somewhere in the stern.”
“Sort o’ windmill thing?”
“Oh, no.”
“Oh, I see, more like my water-mill paddles, eh?”
“Well, I don’t quite know yet,” said Vane.