Amid the flapping of her head sails as she hung for a moment or two in stays, I slipped overside and took the water easily while the black mass of her stern swung slowly round and covered me from view of the boat.

Then, as the tall side began to gather way and slip by me, I cast a glance towards land and dived.
I came to the surface warily and trod water whilst I spied for the boat, which--as I reckoned--must be more than a gunshot distant.
The sound of oars guided me, and I dived again in a terror.

For she had not turned about to follow the ketch, but was heading almost directly towards me, as if to cut me off from the shore.
My small body was almost bursting when I rose for air and another look.

The boat had not altered her course, and I gasped with a new hope.

What if, after all, she were not pursuing me?
I let my legs sink and trod water.