"But we cannot last long in the water," protested the Englishman, mildly.
"At least, sir," Dave suggested, "we shall not die until we have to. You swim?"
"Once I did."
"Then you can swim now. The sea is nearly smooth. Let us try to keep together. And you, Captain Kennor? You swim?"
"Yes."
"Good. We'll keep together as long as we can."
At this moment the Englishwoman, the shortest of the quartette, gave a little cry as she found her footing giving way beneath her.
"All together!" cried Darrin, with a cheeriness he did not feel, as he gripped the woman's left arm.
Another drop of the deck sent them all adrift. The Englishman supported his wife on her right. Captain Kennor, nearly silent, but undaunted, swam slightly behind the others that he might offer aid wherever needed.
Strangely enough, though the swimmers spoke to each other occasionally, none now referred to the dastardly conduct of the enemy in setting them thus adrift to drown.