“Run and fetch it,” said Bob to the man in charge of the mill, whose carelessness had caused the damage, and who stared silently at his work with a look of horrified resignation.
When he was gone Bob and Tim threw off their coats, rolled up their sleeves to the shoulder, and set to work with a degree of promptitude and skill which proved them to be both earnest and capable workmen.
The first thing to be done was to detach the damaged saw from its frame.
“There,” said Bob, as he flung it down, “you won’t use your teeth again on the wrong subject for some time to come. Have we dry timber heavy enough to mend the frame, Tim?”
“Plenty—more than we want.”
“Well, you go to work on it while I fix up the new saw.”
To work the two went accordingly—adjusting, screwing, squaring, sawing, planing, mortising, until the dinner-bell called them to the house.
“So soon!” exclaimed Bob; “dinner is a great bother when a man is very busy.”
“D’ye think so, Bob? Well, now, I look on it as a great comfort—specially when you’re hungry.”
“Ah! but that’s because you are greedy, Tim. You always were too fond o’ your grub.”