Page:Twenty Thousand Verne Frith 1876.pdf/63

 I swam more vigorously, but, impeded by my clothes, I found great difficulty in keeping afloat. Conseil perceived this.

“Will Monsieur permit me to make a little incision? There,” said he; and with a quick movement he passed the blade of his knife from my back downwards. Then he slowly took off my garments, while I swam for both.

I, in my turn, then rendered him a like service; and we continued to swim close together.

Nevertheless, the situation was no less alarming. Perhaps our disappearance had not been remarked, and if it had the frigate could not return for us, being deprived of her rudder. We then could only count upon one of her boats to pick us up.

Conseil coolly reasoned upon this hypothesis, and made his arrangements accordingly. He was apparently quite at home.

We made up our minds that our only chance of safety lay in our rescue by the boats of the frigate, and we therefore ought to arrange so as to remain as long as possible above water. I resolved to divide our strength, so that we should not succumb simultaneously, and this is how we did it. While one lay upon his back, motionless, with folded arms and extended limbs, the other was to swim and push him along. The part of following in his companion’s wake was not to last more than ten minutes, and by thus taking it in turn we might be able to swim for some hours, and perhaps until dawn.

It was but a chance, but hope is firmly anchored in the human breast. Then we were two. In fact, I