Winkle: the Eel-Man 167 



said, as there was nothing more to uncover. 

 All that had been lost, years ago, that could 

 be found he felt sure he had got. " A little 

 fur me old age," he put it. I did not stay 

 long. The heat and mosquitoes robbed the 

 place of all romance, and, as Winkle was 

 about through with his work when I got 

 there, we left the wreck of the Betsy Ann 

 together. " It's all owin* to you," was 

 Winkle's one remark, as we turned our 

 backs upon the spot. I could not keep very 

 near him, row as I might. His little boat 

 fairly flew over the water, and in the tangled 

 water-way of Willow Bend I lost sight of 

 him altogether. I looked about for several 

 minutes, but saw nothing of the man or boat. 

 He could not have returned to the wreck 

 without passing me, unless both man and boat 

 went under the surface of the water. I had 

 no inclination to return, and I knew that, if 

 Winkle wished to elude me, to search for 

 him was useless ; so I slowly rowed my boat 

 to his landing, and, tying my boat, took pos- 

 session of the cabin. It was too ancient and 

 fish-like for a summer day, and I walked to 

 the spring near by, and there, curled up on the 

 moss, awaiting his return, and reading the 



