At that moment there was an interruption. A shout from the mill attracted their attention and, looking up, they saw Uncle Dock standing in the doorway.
"Lester!" be bellowed angrily.
"Yes?"
"Come up here this minute," ordered the old man. He left the door and came down the slope toward the river.
"Now I'm in for it," said the boy. "I suppose he'll be angry now because I was talking to you."
Uncle Dock was indeed angry. As he came up to the group he was muttering beneath his breath.
"Get back up to the mill, you young rascal!" he ordered, giving Lester a cuff on the side of the head. "How often have I told you not to be talking to strangers. You talk too much altogether. Get back up to the mill and stay there."
"We were just chatting—" began the boy, but Uncle Dock silenced him with a blow.
With an appealing glance at the Hardy boys, Lester began to make his way back up the slope toward the mill. Uncle Dock turned toward Joe and Frank, surveying them resentfully.
"What are you doing, loafing around here?" he demanded.
