Winkle: the Eel-Man 149 



of sassafras-trees that divided a long level 

 reach of dry pasture meadow from a wider 

 area that was lower and marshy. " If you 

 stand," he continued, "at the end of the 

 trees, you'll see a dip in the land, and that's 

 the old creek-bed. It was in Injun times, o* 

 course." 



" How came you ever to notice this," I 

 asked, "and find out about the walnut- 

 stump ?" 



" Umph ! Well, lad, I'm not a fisherman 

 fur nothin'. There's nets been broke in that 

 stump, and many a hook is stickin' in it now. 

 Why, boy, it don't take long to dive down 

 and see what's what ; and can't you see how 

 land lays when you walk over it ?" he replied, 

 with an over-abundance of contempt in both 

 tone and manner. 



" Not always," I replied. 



" Can't ? Then your eyes ain't o* much 

 account. If a thing's right afore you and 

 you can't see it, then what's the good o* 

 having' eyes?" Cutting his speech short, 

 he gave me a searching glance that explained 

 a great deal of what was passing in his mind. 

 He had taken me up as an apt pupil and now 

 was disposed to set me down as a dullard. 



