“Of course! Are you going to stick up your toadstool to-day?”

“No; it’s going to rain again. It has been raining in the night up in the hills.”

“Yes,” said Josh; “the big fall is coming down with a regular roar.”

“But what about the dam?” said the artist.

“Full, as it ought to be; they’re going to open the upper sluice.”

“When?” said Manners.

“This afternoon,” cried Will.

“Ah, I’ll come and see it done. And about my canvases: I must have some pieces of wood to nail round and hold them together.”

“As you did last time?” said Will. “Well, old Boil O did that. Won’t you let him do it again?”

“I’ve been after him twice, and whenever I spoke he turned away. Suppose I come down to the mill workshop. We can cut some strong laths there.”