“We might lie flat on the top of the wheel,” Hugh said.

“We should be roasted to death when the mill is fairly in flames.  No, Hugh; we must squeeze through this space between the wall and the wheel, slip down by the framework, and keep inside the wheel.  There is no fear of that burning, and we shall get plenty of fresh air down below the level of the mill.

“I will go first, Hugh.  Mind how you go, for these beams are all slimy; get your arm well round, and slip down as far as the axle.”

It was not an easy thing to do, and Rupert lost his hold and slipped down the last ten feet, hurting himself a good deal in his fall.  He was soon on his feet again, and helped to break the fall of Hugh, who lost his hold and footing at the axle, and would have hurt himself greatly, had not Rupert caught him, both boys falling with a crash in the bottom of the wheel.

They were some little time before regaining their feet, for both were much hurt.  Their movements were, however, accelerated by the water, which fell in a heavy shower from above, through the leaks in the buckets of the wheel.

“Are you hurt much, Master Rupert?”

“I don’t think I am broken at all, Hugh, but I am hurt all over.  How are you?”

“I am all right, I think.  It’s lucky the inside of this wheel is pretty smooth, like a big drum.”

The position was not a pleasant one.  A heavy shower of water from above filled the air with spray, and with their heads bent down it was difficult to breathe.  The inside planks of the wheel were so slimy that standing was almost impossible, and at the slightest attempt at movement they fell.  Above, the flames were already darting out through the windows and sides of the mill.

“Do you not think we might crawl out between the wheel and the wall, and make our way down the tail race, Master Rupert?  This water is chilling me to the bones.”

“I think it safer to stop where we are, Hugh.  Those fellows are sure to be on the watch.  They will expect to see us jump out of the upper window the last thing, and will wait to throw our bodies—­for of course we should be killed—­into the flames, to hide all trace of us.  We have only to wait quietly here.  It is not pleasant; but after all the trouble we have had to save our lives, it would be a pity to risk them again.  And I have a very particular desire to be even with that fellow, who is, I doubt not, at the bottom of all this.”

Soon the flames were rushing out in great sheets from the mill, and even in the wheel the heat of the atmosphere was considerable.  Presently a great crash was heard inside.

“There is a floor fallen,” Rupert said.  “I think we may move now; those fellows will have made off secure that—­

“Hullo!  What’s that?”

The exclamation was caused by a sudden creaking noise, and the great wheel began slowly to revolve.  The fall of the floor had broken its connection with the machinery in the mill, and left free, it at once yielded to the weight of the water in its buckets.  The supply of water coming down was small, and the wheel stiff from long disuse, therefore it moved but slowly.  The motion, however, threw both lads from their feet, and once down, the rotatory motion rendered it impossible for them to regain their feet.