n, eh? Come down to fish?"

"No," said Vane, hesitating now.

"Oh, then, you want the boat?"

"Yes, it was about the boat."

"Well, lad, there she is chained to the post. You're welcome, only
don't get upset again and come back here like drowned rats."

"I don't want to row," said Vane. "I--er--that is--oh, look here, Mr
Rounds," he cried desperately, "you can only say no. I am inventing a
plan for moving boats through the water without labour."

"Well, use the oars; they aren't labour."

"But I mean something simpler or easier."

"Nay, theer aren't no easier way unless you tak a canoe and paddle."

"But I'm going to invent an easier way, and I want you to lend me the
boat for an experiment."

"What!" roared the miller, "you want to coot my boat to pieces for some
new fad o' yourn. Nay, lad, it aren't likely."

"But I don't want to cut it up."

"Say, coot, lad, coot; don't chop your words short; sounds as if you
were calling puss wi' your cat."

"Well, then I don't want to coot up the boat, only to fit my machine in
when it's ready, and propel the boat that way."

"Oh, I see," said the miller, scratching his big head. "You don't want
to coot her aboot."

"No, not at all; I won't even injure the paint."

"Hum, well, I don't know what to say, lad. You wouldn't knock her
aboot?"

"No; only bring my machine and fit it somewhere in the stern."

"Sort o' windmill thing?"

"Oh, no."

"Oh, I see, more like my water-mill paddles, eh?"

"Well, I don't quite know yet," said Vane.

"What, aren't it ready?"

"No; I haven't begun."

"Oh. Mebbe it never will be."

"Oh, yes, I shall finish it," said Vane.

"Hey, what a lad thou art for scheming things; I wish you'd mak' me a
thing to grind corn wi'out weering all the face off the stones, so as
they weant bite."

"Perhaps I will some day."

"Ay, there'd be some sense in that, lad. Well, thou alway was a lad o'
thy word when I lent you the boat, so you may have her when you like;
bood I'll lay a wager you don't get a machine done as'll row the boat
wi' me aboard."

"We'll see," cried Vane, excitedly.

"Ay, we will," said the miller. "Bood, say, lad, what a one thou art
for scheming! I say I heered some un say that it was one o' thy tricks
that night when church clock kep' on striking nine hundred and nineteen
to the dozen."

"Well, Mr Round--"

"I know'd: thou'd been winding her oop wi' the kitchen poker, or some
game o' that sort,