"No, I ain't" snapped Zenas Henry with rising ire.  "It's only sometimes the thing gets spleeny. Most always—" 

 "Then it warn't you I saw pitchin' in the channel fur a couple of hours yesterday afternoon," commented the tormentor. 

 "No. That is—let me think a minute," meditated Zenas Henry.  "Yes, I guess it was me, after all," he admitted with reluctant honesty.  "The tide brought in quite a batch of weeds, an' they washed up round the boat before I could get out of their way; quicker'n a wink we were neatly snarled up in 'em. Captain Jonas an' Captain Phineas tried to get clear, but somehow they ain't got much knack fur freein' the wheel. So we did linger in the channel a spell." 

 "Linger!" put in Willie.  "I shouldn't call bobbin' up an' down in one spot fur two mortal hours lingerin'. I'd call it nearer bein' hypnotized." 

 Zenas Henry was now plainly out of temper. He was well aware that Wilton had scant sympathy with his motor-boat, the first innovation of the sort that had been perpetrated in the town. 

 "Hadn't you better turn your attention from motor-boats to pumps?" he asked testily. 

 "I reckon I had, Zenas Henry," Willie answered, unruffled by the thrust.  "As you say, if you chose to wind yourself up in the eel-grass it's none of my affair." 

 Turning his back on his visitor, he bent once more over the pump and adjusted a leather washer between its rusty joints. 

 "Now let's give her a try, Jan," he said, as he tightened the screws. "If that don't fetch her I'm beat." 

 By this time Jan's faith had lessened, and although he obediently raised the iron handle and began to ply it up and down, it was obvious that he did not anticipate success. But contrary to his expectations there was a sudden subterranean groan, followed by a rumble of gradually rising pitch; then from out the stubbed green spout a stream of water gushed forth and trickled into the tub beneath. 

 "Hurray!" shouted Jan.  "There she blows, Willie! Ain't you the dabster, though!" 

 The inventor did not immediately acknowledge the plaudits heaped upon him, but it was evident he was gratified by his success for, as he wiped the beads of perspiration from his forehead he sighed deeply. 

 "If I hadn't been 

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