irs I heard the
harsh shrieking of blades that were being held upon the stones, and I
knew that some men must have begun work.

The upper floor was of the same size as the lower, but divided into four
rooms by partitions, and here too were shafts and wheels turning from
their connection with the great water-wheel. Over that a small room had
been built supported by an arch stretching from the works to a stone
wall, and as we looked out of the narrow iron-barred window down upon
the deep dam, Uncle Bob said laughingly:

"What a place for you, Cob! You could drop a line out of the window,
and catch fish like fun."

I laughed, and we all had a good look round before examining the side
buildings, where there were forges and furnaces, and a tall
chimney-shaft ran up quite a hundred feet.

"Plenty of room to do any amount of work," cried Uncle Jack. "I think
the place a bargain."

"Yes," said Uncle Bob, "where we can carry out our inventions; and if
anybody is disagreeable, we can shut ourselves up like knights in a
castle and laugh at all attacks."

"Yes," said Uncle Dick thoughtfully; "but I wish we had not begun by
quarrelling with those men."

"Let's try and make friends as we go out," said Uncle Jack.

It was a good proposal; and, under the impression that a gallon or two
of beer would heal the sore place, we went into the big workshop or
mill, where all the men had now resumed their tasks, and were grinding
away as if to make up for lost time.

One man was seated alone on a stone bench, and as we entered he half
turned, and I saw that it was Uncle Dick's opponent.

He looked at us for a moment and then turned scowling away.

My uncles whispered together, and then Uncle Dick stepped forward and
said:

"I'm sorry we had this little upset, my lads. It all arose out of a
mistake. We have taken these works, and of course wanted to look round
them, but we do not wish to put you to any inconvenience. Will you--"

He stopped short, for as soon as he began to speak the men seemed to
press down their blades that they were grinding harder and harder,
making them send forth such a deafening churring screech that he paused
quite in despair of making himself heard.

"My lads!" he said, trying again.

Not a man turned his head, and it was plain enough that they would not
hear.

"Let me speak to him," said Uncle Bob, catching his brother by the arm,
for Uncle Dick was going to address the man on the stone.