"Oh, am I?" Peckover looked uneasily doubtful. "I don't see where the excitement about fishing comes in."
"That's a detail."
"Then I can't swim," Peckover objected.
"All the more reason for my jumping in to save you."
"But supposing you don't save me?"
"I'm bound to save you. If I'm not going to rescue you, there is no point in your getting wet."
"If you are not going to rescue me there's no point in my getting drowned," Peckover returned, with misgiving.
"I shall work it all right," Gage assured him. "Never let go of you. You're too precious."
"I don't know. It would be worth five thousand a year to you to let me dive to the bottom and stay there."
"I'm neither a fool nor a murderer," Gage declared.