It was driving gradually shoreward all the time, now; but whether it was driving fast enough to make the connection or not was the momentous question.

When it got within thirty steps of Higbie I was so excited that I fancied I could hear my own heart beat.

When, a little later, it dragged slowly along and seemed about to go by, only one little yard out of reach, it seemed as if my heart stood still; and when it was exactly abreast him and began to widen away, and he still standing like a watching statue, I knew my heart did stop.

But when he gave a great spring, the next instant, and lit fairly in the stern, I discharged a war-whoop that woke the solitudes! But it dulled my enthusiasm, presently, when he told me he had not been caring whether the boat came within jumping distance or not, so that it passed within eight or ten yards of him, for he had made up his mind to shut his eyes and mouth and swim that trifling distance.

Imbecile that I was, I had not thought of that.