and scour everything
away with it--houses, mills, rocks, all would go like corks."

"Why, it would carry away our works, then," I cried. "The place is
right down by the water side."

"I hope not," said Uncle Jack. "No I should say the force would be
exhausted before it got so far as that, eight or nine miles away."

"Well, it does look dangerous," said Uncle Bob. "The weight must be
tremendous. How would it go if it did burst?"

"I say, uncle, I'm only a coward, please. Hadn't we better go off
here?"

They all laughed, and we went on across the dam.

"How would it go!" said Uncle Jack thoughtfully. "It is impossible to
say. Probably the water would eat a little hole through the top
somewhere and that would rapidly grow bigger, the water pouring through
in a stream, and cutting its way down till the solidity of the wall
being destroyed by the continuity being broken great masses would
crumble away all at once, and the pent-up waters would rush through."

"And if they came down and washed away our works just as we were making
our fortunes, you would say I was to blame for taking such a dangerous
place."

"There, come along," cried Uncle Bob, "don't let's meet troubles
half-way. I want a ramble over those hills. There, Cob, now we're
safe," he said, as we left the great dam behind. "Now, then, who's for
some lunch, eh?"

This last question was suggested by the sight of a snug little village
inn, where we had a hearty meal and a rest, and then tramped off to meet
with an unexpected adventure among the hills.

As soon as one gets into a hilly country the feeling that comes over one
is that he ought to get up higher, and I had that sensation strongly.

But what a glorious walk it was! We left the road as soon as we could
and struck right away as the crow flies for one of several tremendous
hills that we saw in the distance. Under our feet was the purple heath
with great patches of whortleberry, that tiny shrub that bears the
little purply grey fruit. Then there was short elastic wiry grass and
orange-yellow bird's-foot trefoil. Anon we came to great patches of
furze of a dwarf kind with small prickles, and of an elegant growth, the
purple and yellow making the place look like some vast wild garden.

"We always seem to be climbing up," said Uncle Dick.

"When we are not sliding down," said Uncle Jack, laughing.

"I've been looking for a bit of level ground for a race," said Uncle
Bob. "My word!