"Oh, I see, you've been bathing; and, as you had no towels, you kept
your clothes on. I say, hang it all, my lads, didst ta capsize the
boat?"
"No," said Vane, quietly, as he leaped ashore with the chain; "we had a
misfortune, and ran on one of those big stumps up the river."
"Hey? What, up yonder by old brigg?"
"Yes."
"Hang it all, lads, come into the cottage, and I'll send on to fetch
your dry clothes. Hey, but it's a bad job. Mustn't let you catch cold.
Here, hi! Mrs Lasby. Kettle hot?"
"Yes, Mester," came from the cottage.
"Then set to, and make the young gents a whole jorum of good hot tea."
The miller hurried the little party into the cottage, where the
kitchen-fire was heaped up with brushwood and logs, about which the boys
stood, and steamed, drinking plenteously of hot tea the while, till the
messenger returned with their dry clothes, and, after the change had
been made, their host counselled a sharp run home, to keep up the
circulation, undertaking to send the wet things back himself.