"You swam to the reef?" asked Vivian.
"First to the reef and then to the island, sir. There's two islands inside the reef forming the breakwater. More than once the same thing has happened. Men had been there before me, and had been fetched away by passing ships, and men may be there now for aught we know."
"Oh, Rupert!" said Angela, softly.
"How long were you on the island then?" asked Rupert.
"About three weeks, sir. But I have heard of the crew of a ship being there for as many months—and more. You have to take your chance. I was lucky. I'm always pretty lucky, for the matter of that."
"Would it be easy to land on the island?"
"There's an opening big enough for boats in the reef. It ain't a very easy matter to swim the distance. I was only thinking, when I heard you asking questions, that it was just possible that some of the crew and passengers might have got ashore, after all, as I did, and turn up when you're least expecting it. It's a chance, anyway. Good morning, sir."
"Excuse me," said Vivian; "would you mind giving me your name and address?"
The man's name was Somers: he was the captain of a small trading vessel, and was likely to be in London for some weeks.
"But if you have anything more to ask me, sir," he said, "I shall be pleased to come and answer any of your inquiries at your own house, if you wish. It's a long tramp for you to come my way."