said, as I looked at the great
deep-looking piece of water held up by a strong stone-built dam, and fed
by a stream at the farther end.

"Because it would be the handiest place. These are our works."

I looked at the stone-built prison-like place in disgust. It was
wonderfully strongly-built, and with small windows protected by iron
bars, but such a desolate unornamental spot. It stood low down by the
broad shallow stream that ran on toward the town in what must once have
been the bed of the river; but the steep banks had been utilised by the
builders on each side, and everywhere one saw similar-looking places so
arranged that their foundation walls caught and held up the water that
came down, and was directed into the dam, and trickled out at the lower
end after it had turned a great slimy water-wheel. "This is our place,
boys; come and have a look at it." He led us down a narrow passage
half-way to the stream, and then rang at a gate in a stone wall; and
while we waited low down there I looked at the high rough stone wall and
the two-storied factory with its rows of strong iron-barred windows, and
thought of what Mr Tomplin had said the night before, coming to the
conclusion that it was a pretty strong fortress in its way. For here
was a stout high wall; down along by the stream there was a high blank
wall right from the stones over which the water trickled to the double
row of little windows; while from the top corner by the water-wheel,
which was fixed at the far end of the works, there was the dam of deep
water, which acted the part of a moat, running off almost to a point
where the stream came in, so that the place was about the shape of the
annexed triangle: the works occupying the whole of the base, the rest
being the deep stone-walled dam.

"I think we could keep out the enemy if he came," I said to Uncle Bob;
and just then a short-haired, palefaced man, with bent shoulders, bare
arms, and an ugly squint, opened the gate and scowled at us.

"Is your master in?" said Uncle Dick.

"No-ah," said the man sourly; "and he wean't be here to-day."

"That's a bad job," said Uncle Dick. "Well, never mind; we want to go
round the works."

"Nay, yow wean't come in here."

He was in the act of banging the gate, but Uncle Dick placed one of his
great brown hands against it and thrust it open, driving the man back,
but only for a moment, for he flew at my uncle, caught him by the arm
and waist, thrust forward