Row your boat soft, Miss Elisabet' -- hush! -- do not speak wiz your -- what is it you call?
-- We will catch him -- we have the wind -- unless he be like a wild duck -- " Winthrop's boat lay still upon the sleepy water, -- his fishing rod dipped its end lazily in, -- the cork floated at rest; and the fisher seated in his boat, was giving his whole attention seemingly to something in his boat.

Very softly and pretty skilfully they stole up.
He had something of the wild duck about him; for before they could get more than near at hand, he had looked up, looked round, and risen to greet them.

By his help the boats were laid close alongside of each other; and while Winthrop and Mr.
Herder were shaking hands across them, Elizabeth quietly leaned over into the stern of the fishing-boat and took up one or two books which lay there.

The first proved to be an ill- bound, ill printed, Greek _and Latin_ dictionary; the other was a Homer! Elizabeth laid them down again greatly amazed, and wondering what kind of people she had got among.
"What brings you here now, Mr.Herder ?" said Winthrop.

"Have you come to look after the American Eagle ?" "Ha! -- no -- I have not come to look after no eagle; -- and yet I do not know -- I have come to see you, and I do not know what you will turn to be -- the eagle flies high, you know." Winthrop was preparing to tie the two boats together, and did not answer.