"Pray, pray, be careful, Vane, my dear," cried Aunt Hannah, the next
afternoon, when the new propeller had been carefully lifted on to the
miller's cart, and the inventor rushed in to say good-bye and ask the
doctor and his aunt to come down for the trial, which would take place
in two hours' time exactly.
Then he followed the cart, but only to be overtaken by the rector's
other three pupils, Macey announcing that Mr Syme was going to follow
shortly.
Vane did not feel grateful, and he would have rather had the trial all
alone, but he was too eager and excited to mind much, and soon after the
boat was drawn up to the side of the staging, at the end of the dam, the
ponderous affair lifted from the cart, and the miller came out to form
one of the group of onlookers.
"Why, hey, Vane Lee, my lad, she's too big enew. She'll sink the boat."
"Oh, no," cried Vane. "It looks heavier than it is."
"Won't be much room for me," said the miller, with a chuckle.
"You mustn't come," cried Vane in alarm. "Only Macey and I are going in
the boat. We work the pedals and hand cranks. This is only an
experiment to see if it will go."
"Hey bood she'll goo reight enew," said the miller, seriously, "if I get
in. Reight to the bottom, and the mill 'll be to let."