Sure enough, not twenty yards from the Electric Monarch as she lay on the waves, was the form of the swimmer.
“Stick it out! We’ll get you!” shouted Tom, from his post astern.
The swimmer waved a confident hand in reply. He did not appear at all incommoded by his accident. On the contrary, he was swimming leisurely as if he rather enjoyed his bath than otherwise. The boys gazed at him in astonishment. Within the next few minutes they were destined to be yet more surprised.
[CHAPTER XXII.]
AN OLD FRIEND.
The surprise in store for them was this. The swimmer was an old friend of theirs.
“Captain Sprowl!” shouted Jack, as they neared him.
“Aye! aye! my hearty!” came back the response, in the old New Englander’s hearty voice, “lay alongside and I’ll come aboard.”
“What, you know him!” demanded Ned.