Slowly it sank below into the darkness, until it was merely a black, shapeless shadow outlined against the water.

I felt the strain on my arms as the swell gripped its keel; then the stern swung free, and I knew she was scrambling forward, knife in hand, for the other rope.

Almost before the boat could swing about, the second stay dangled, and all my straining eyes could perceive was a dark, indefinite shadow drifting out of sight astern.

Without uttering a sound, or wasting a second, I dived from the rail.

I came up to the surface, swishing the water from my eyes.
Five fathoms away was the shapeless outline of the boat, tossing helplessly on the swell, the girl still in the bow, her very attitude bespeaking terror.
"It's all right," I called, loud enough for her to hear.