“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.”