“Cramp,” I heard him say, “in my left leg. You’ll have to tow me. Can you swim on your back?”
“Yes.”
Whether I could or not, I supposed, I should have to.
So in turn I flung myself on my back, and caught hold of him under those hard, strong-feeling arms of his.
Then began the struggle back to shore.
The tide was setting in, thank heaven! and as long as we were in the deep waters it was not so hard. Presently we came to where the waves began to break. The wind was blowing off the shore, blowing the surfy crests of the waves backwards as a girl’s hair is blown across her face ... and presently I was half blinded by the spray that dashed over my head, into my eyes and mouth.
I choked, panted....
“Rest a minute,” said a voice close to me. “No hurry. The tide will take us both in.” ...
But, getting my breath, I struggled on again, yard by yard. Again I got a mouthful; spluttered, coughed.