“Yes, of course, the distance is so short.”
“And you, Arthur, you can swim through there?”
The boy could not speak, for he was battling down the horrible feeling of dread that came over him.
“I say, you can swim that, Arthur?” said Mr Temple sternly.
“Yes, father. I’ll try,” said the boy quickly.
“That’s well. Of course you two can swim?”
“Tidy, sir, tidy,” said Josh; “and Will here, he could ’most beat a seal. But there ain’t no call to get wetting of ourselves. I’ll shove the boat back to where it’s highest and where the water never reaches. We can wait there till she goes down again.”
“Do you know what you are talking about, man?” cried Mr Temple sternly. “We should be suffocated.”
“Josh means put the boat, sir, under the opening in the rock that he spoke about,” said Will. “There’ll be plenty of air. You can stand up on the rocks, sir, and hear it rush out with a regular roar when the water drives in, and when it goes out again the air sucks in so fast that it will take a piece of paper with it, and sometimes blows it out again.”
“There is no time to be lost then if you are sure of this,” said Mr Temple anxiously; “but are you sure?”