By the aid of a boat-hook Villiers was brought within hand's reach, but the task of getting him on board had yet to be tackled.
Assisted by O'Loghlin, Griffiths, and Bell, Beverley passed a couple of ropes round the distended diving-dress and carefully, yet unceremoniously, parbuckled Jack into safety, although the boat dipped until her waterways were awash.
"All right, Villiers, old thing?" inquired Beverley anxiously, when the first of the glass plates of the helmet was unscrewed.
"Yes—I think so," replied Jack in a voice he hardly recognized as his own. "I'll explain later."
"And Swaine?"
"Quite O.K.," declared Villiers emphatically.
Willing hands divested him of his cumbersome diving-dress, and, a boat having put off from the shore, Jack was transhipped and taken to the camp.
"Nothing to worry about," reported Beverley, in answer to eager inquiries. "Let him alone, and don't worry him with questions. Hallo! here's Swaine." Swaine, having come ashore by the usual way of following the rope, had arrived in shoal water unwelcomed by anyone. Finding that there was no one to assist him, he trudged above high-water mark and sat down, looking a hideously-grotesque figure.
Harborough and two or three others hurried to him.
"Villiers all right?" were his first words.