"Is that someone alive?
Here, mate--for Christ's sake!" "Hold on! Whereabouts are you ?" "Down in this here cruel water." The words ended in a shuddering cough.
"Right--hold on for a moment!" Taffy's ankle pained him, but the wrench was not serious.

The cliff shelved easily.

He slid down, clutching at the tamarisk boughs which whipped his face.

"Where are you?
I can't see." "Here!" The voice was not a dozen yards away.
"Swimming ?" "No--I've got a water-breaker--can't hold on much longer." "I believe you can touch bottom there." "Hey?
I can't hear." "Try to touch bottom.

It's firm sand hereabouts." "So I can." The splashing and coughing came nearer, came close.
Taffy stretched out a hand.