Yet the tedious delay of it all irked him and fanned to a blind fury his rage against Milo.

Moreover, now, he could not hope to reach the hidden path before real darkness should set in.
And he did not relish the idea of traversing its blind mazes without a glimmer of daylight to guide him.
Yet he struck out, stubbornly, doggedly.

As he passed the tooth of coral that had wrecked his scow the reef gave him a painful farewell scrape on one kicking knee.

He swam on fuming at this latest annoyance.
Then to his ears came the steady purr of a motorboat.

It was close to him and coming closer.
"Boat ahoy!" he sang out treading water and raising himself as high as possible to peer about him through the dusk.
"Boat ahoy!" he called again, shouting to be heard above the motor's hum.