"Can't swim."
"Can't swim? What fellows you are! Why don't you learn? What if you should tumble overboard? what would you do then?"
"Go to the bottom," answered John with a broad smile, as if that were a funny thing to do.
The boys exclaimed over this lack of knowledge, and Joe finally said, "See here, you two fellows; get your father to let you come over to our camp every day, and before our camp-life is over we will teach you so you can swim like fish."
This was a delightful proposal to the boys, not only because they wanted to swim, but because it would take them among other boys.
As soon as the party returned to the lighthouse, John and Jerry whispered the invitation to their father, and asked if they might accept.
He consented willingly.
"May we learn to swim?"
"Well, yes, I suppose so. I want ye to learn. I suppose it's time you did; and there ain't no chance at this end o' the island."
"There is a good beach where we are camping, and we shall fasten a rope across to show the boys how far they can go safely."