He was apparently clinging to the side with his head barely reaching the top of the rail.
"Do you see this bit of ledge I am standing on ?" he asked.

"Could you get out and stand on this, holding to this piece of rope as I do ?" "Yes," said she, "I could do that." "Then, still holding to the rope, could you lower yourself down from the ledge and hang to it with your hands ?" "And drop into your boat ?" said she.

"Yes, I could do that." "No," said he, "not drop into my boat.

It would kill you if you fell into the boat.

You must drop into the water." She shuddered, and felt like screaming.
"But it will be easy to drop into the water; you can't hurt yourself, and I shall be there.