"I'll risk that," rejoined Findlay, who was already divesting himself of his clothing.
"Will that lad be all right, do you think?" asked Mr. Armitage in an aside.
"Quite," replied Mr. Graham, with firm conviction. "He's like a young eel in the water."
"All my lads are good swimmers," observed Mr. Armitage, "but curiously enough they are indifferent divers. Woodleigh, for instance, always shuts his eyes when diving. He says he cannot open them while under water. It's pure fallacy, although I know plenty of people who say the same thing."
Meanwhile Findlay, looking like a young Apollo, was whetting his knife on the palm of his hand.
"No chance of that propeller revolving?" he inquired.
"Motor's stopped," replied Woodleigh. "You'll be all right as far as that is concerned; but for goodness' sake mind you don't get a biff on the head."
Jock made a clean, graceful dive over the counter, and, reappearing almost at once, swam towards the stern. Awaiting his opportunity he grasped the upper edge of the rudder and drew himself beneath the surface.
For thirty long-drawn-out seconds Findlay remained submerged; then he reappeared about a couple of yards from the boat.