Captain Bannister turned his head to see how the young man was getting on. Of course the boat was empty.
"Where'n the nation has he got to, now?" exclaimed the bewildered
Captain.
We were all doubled up laughing, but we managed to gasp out: "He's gone overboard again!"
"What's he done that for?"
"He—he—fell over!"
"Fell over? What'n the dickens did he do that for? Where is he, anyhow?"
At this moment the sandy head, and astonished face came up, once more, in our wake. He brushed the water out of his eyes, looked at us, and began to smile again.
"Say, you!" shouted the Captain, "be you comin' on this boat, or what be you goin' to do?"
The swimmer gasped.
"If you keep on at that rate," he called, "I'm probably NOT coming. If you'll wait a bit, though, I'll—"