At last Dave could walk on the bottom, and then he struggled into shore with all speed.
As he did this, Captain Broadbeam came to his assistance, and clutched at the reptile. But the water snake was out of its element on land, and in a trice it loosened itself, dropped back into the ocean, and disappeared.
Dave was so exhausted he pitched headlong on the sand, where he lay, panting for breath.
"Did he sting you?" queried the captain, anxiously.
"I don't think so," was the gasped-out reply. "But he came pretty close to drowning me!"
"I reckon you won't go bathing again, lad."
"Not for a million dollars!"
"That's the worst of bathing in unknown waters. You don't know what you are going to run up against."
"I didn't imagine there were water snakes here."
After resting awhile, Dave dressed himself, and the pair went back to the camp.