Outside the front door, they could see three figures, two men and a boy. At that distance it was impossible to distinguish their features, but as the lads descended the hillside and drew closer they saw that the men were middle-aged fellows, far from reassuring in appearance. Because of Stummer's remarks, the Hardy boys and their chums took good care to keep to the shelter of the bushes as they went along the abandoned roadway, now overgrown with weeds and undergrowth. Their approach was not noticed, and at last they were standing not more than a hundred yards away from the mill, effectually concealed by the trees and shrubs. "I don't like the looks of the men," remarked Frank, in a low voice. "Neither do I," agreed Joe. One of the men was apparently about fifty years of age. He had a dirty, greying beard and he wore spectacles. He was clad in a torn and stained pair of overalls and his sleeves were rolled to the elbows, revealing his blackened arms. "For a miller, there's mighty little flour on his hands," commented Frank. "He looks more like an automobile mechanic." The other man, who looked older, was similarly attired, but he was of a more benevolent appearance. He did not wear glasses and his shaggy brows almost hid a pair of keen, sharp eyes. He fondled his long white beard reflectively as the other man talked to him in low tones. The boys could not overhear what the pair were saying, but they saw the boy, a fair, curly-headed youth of about fifteen, in ragged clothing, look up at the older man and say something to him. Instantly the old fellow lost his look of benevolent reflection. He gave the boy a cuff on the ear that almost staggered him. "Be off with you!" he ordered harshly. "Go away and play. Don't be hanging around here while we're talking." He spoke so loudly that his words could be clearly heard by the lads hidden in the bushes. The curly-headed boy stood his ground, and evidently repeated what he had said before, for the old man at once became furious. "Go away and play, I tell you!" he shouted in shrill tones. "I'll call you when I need you. And be sure you come in a hurry when you hear me." He reached behind him for a heavy cane that was leaning beside the doorway and he struck out viciously at the lad with it. But the boy dodged the blow and ran off toward the mill race, while the old man watched him go, muttering imprecations. "Leave him alone," said the other man in a guttural voice. "We've got other things to attend to than that brat." "He's a nuisance, I'll whale the hide off him when he comes back." "Leave him alone. Markel is waiting for us. Let's go inside." "All right--all right," muttered the old man peevishly. He turned and followed the other through the doorway. "Nice tempered old chap," remarked Jerry, when the pair had disappeared into the mill. "I'll say he is," declared Joe. "I don't think either of them is up to much."