It would be better to let well enough alone, and he was a ticklish customer.
The day after we returned to St.Augustine, we were walking on the sea-wall, when we met Corny.

She said she had been looking for us.

Her father had gone out fishing with some gentlemen, and her mother would not walk in the sun, and, besides, she had something to say to us.
So we all walked to the fort and sat down on the wide wall of the water-battery.

Rectus bestrode one of the cannon that stood pointing out to sea, but Corny told him she wanted him to get down and sit by her, so that she wouldn't have to shout.
"Now then," said she, after pausing a little, as if she wanted to be sure and get it right, "you two saved my life, and I want to give you something to remember me by." We both exclaimed against this.
"You needn't do that," said I, "for I'm sure that no one who saw you coming up from the bottom, like the fairy-women float up on wires at the theatre, could ever forget you.

We'll remember you, Corny, without your giving us anything." "But that wont do," said she.