Kicking off his boots, he reduced his clothing to a pair of loose knee-breeches.
"'Tis a strange time to indulge in a cold bath!" murmured Thorwald, whose state of surprise was beginning to render him desperately ironical.
Gascoyne took no notice of the remark, but calling Corrie to his side, said: "Can you swim, boy ?" "Yes, like a duck." "Can you distinguish the stem of the schooner ?" "I can." "Listen, then.

When you see a white sheet waved over the taffrail, throw off your jacket and shirt and swim out to the schooner.

D'ye understand ?" "Perfectly," replied the boy, whose decision of manner and action grew with the occasion.
"And now, Mr.Thorwald," said Gascoyne, "I shall swim off to the schooner.

If, as I expect, the men are on shore in a place that I wot of, and with which you have nothing to do, well and good.

I will send a boat for you with muffled oars; but, mark you, let there be no noise in embarking or in getting aboard the schooner.