“No, not exactly. But I waited too long and the tide headed me off.”
“Mercy on us! you mustn't take chances on that tide. If you'd told me you was goin', I'd have warned you to hurry back.”
“Oh, I've been warned often enough. It was my own fault, as usual. I'm not sure that I don't need a guardian.”
“Humph! well, I ain't sure either. Was the channels very deep?”
“Deep enough. The fact is, that I might have got into serious trouble if I hadn't been picked up.”
He told briefly the story of his morning's adventure. The housekeeper listened with growing excitement.
“Heavens to Betsy!” she interrupted. “Was the channel you planned to swim the one at the end of the flat by the longest weir leader?”
“Yes.”
“My soul! there's been two men drowned in that very place at half tide. And they were good swimmers. After this I shan't dare let you out of my sight.”
“So? Was it as risky as that? Why, Captain Hammond didn't tell me so. I must owe him more even than I thought.”