Then he returned to his friends.
"I could see round," he said, "and I think I could have got round without getting into deeper water.

The worst of it is the bottom is all rocky, and I stumbled several times, and should have gone under water if I could not have swam.

You can't swim, Ruthven, I know; can you other fellows ?" Goodall could swim, as could one of the others.
"Now, Ruthven," Frank said, "if you will put your hand on my shoulder and keep quiet, I think I could carry you around.

Goodall and Jackson can take Childers." But neither of the other boys had much confidence in their swimming.
They could get thirty or forty yards, but felt sure that they would be able to render but little assistance to Childers, and in fact scarcely liked to round the point alone.

For some time they debated the question, the sea every minute rising and pushing them farther and farther from the point.