But the morning had passed so quickly that, until Dick had taken his header, and they saw him swept astern, it had never occurred to one of them that it could possibly be three o'clock.

Freckleton was the first to see the danger, and almost as soon as Dick appeared above water, he flung off his coat and boots, and saying to Cresswell, "Come quick with the boat," plunged into the water.
He was soon at Dick's side; not to support him, for the boy was able to do that for himself, but to encourage him to keep cool, and not waste his strength in endeavouring to stem the tide.

And Dick had sense enough to take the advice, and tread water quietly till the boat should come.
It seemed a long time coming.

The anchor was fast in the bottom, and it wanted all Cresswell's strength to get it up.

Indeed he would have been tempted to simplify matters by cutting the cord, had he had a knife at hand.
By the time it was free, the boys were almost a quarter of a mile away, and getting weary.