tream of water which passed along the chute, a good-sized fall was
spurting out by the upper sluice.

These two exits were, however, not enough to keep the water down, so
rapid was the flow from the hills to swell the stream, and the water in
the great pool still rose. Hence it was that the second sluice was to
be opened, and in a few minutes a third rush added its roar to that of
the other two. Mr Willows stood watching for a few minutes, till he
had satisfied himself by observing the painted marks upon a post that
the water had ceased to rise, and then he walked away, leaving the
others to chat with the men, who hung back for a few minutes after
securing the sluice door, before going down to resume their regular work
in the mill.

"Not much of a time for trout fishing, Mr Manners, sir," said one of
the men.

"No," was the reply; "it is all over for the season for me."

"Suppose so, sir. Have you young gents been below there to have a look
at the eel-box?"

"Eels?" said Manners. "Ah, I like eels."

"There'll be plenty to-night, sir; they'll be well on the move after
sundown. I shouldn't be surprised if there was a good take."

"We ought to be there to see," said Will. "The rains will have brought
them down. It's rare fun catching the slippery beggars. You'll help,
won't you, Mr Manners?"

"Rather a slimy job," was the reply; "but I'll put on an old coat and
pair of trousers, and come. What time?"

"About eight o'clock. That'll do," said Will. "Then you can come in to
supper afterwards with us."

"Right!" was the reply; and that night, prompt to their time, Josh, who
had called at the cottage on his way down, presented himself at the Mill
House garden-gate with Manners, both properly equipped for their
slippery task, and finding Will awaiting their arrival.

"Come on," he cried; "I thought you didn't mean to come. I hate waiting
in the dark."

He led the way through the garden to the lower gate by the mill-yard,
and then right along under the buildings to the huge shed built up over
the wheel, which was turning rapidly to the hollow roar of the water
descending the chute to pass into the many receptacles at the end of the
great spokes, before falling with echoing splashes into the square,
stone-built basin below.

It was close to the exit here that a portion of the great shed had been
devoted to the purpose of an eel-trap, which was most effective in warm,
rainy times when the flooded waters