I lifted Bill out of the barrel and seated him in a chair, and paid for the glasses; all the time watching Bill for fear he might renew the tussle, and take me in flank; but he sat as if dazed until I had quieted matters down, when he rose and addressed the crowd.
"My little son," said he, patting me on the shoulder.

"Stoutest man of his inches in the world.

We'll be round here's evenin'-- give a show.
C'mon, Jake!" "Wot I said about growin' up," said he, as we went along the street, "is all took back, Jake!" We had not gone more than a quarter of a mile when we came to a place where there was a stand for express wagons and drays; and Bill picked out from the crowd, with a good deal of difficulty, I thought, a hard-looking citizen to whom he introduced me as the stoutest man on the Erie Canal.

The drayman seemed to know me.

He said he had seen me wrestle.