“Because you’re trying to make me seem a coward now.”
“I don’t understand you.”
“Do you think I’m going to be such a coward as to let you do what I’m afraid to do myself?”
“Then you would be afraid to go again?”
“Yes, of course I should be. So would you.”
“Yes, I can’t help feeling horribly afraid; but I’ll do it,” said Aleck.
“To show you’re not a coward?”
“Partly that, and partly because I fancy that perhaps I could swim out this time.”
“And I’m sure you couldn’t,” said the middy, “and I shan’t let you go.”
“You can’t stop me?”