He would not fall in with such a plan, not he.
He would keep out of the water while there was any land left to stand on.

He had had enough of plumping to the bottom, and coming up, ears singing, throat choking, and soul almost scared out of him.

Better a crumb of bread and a morsel of cheese, than fatness and plenty earned in such a way.
It was hard for Blair to understand the nervous fear of drowning which had taken possession of poor Hal.

Fairport boys could swim almost as soon as they could walk.

They knew nothing of the helpless feeling of one who has the great deep under him, and is powerless to struggle in its waves.
But a few short days before, Blair would have pronounced Hal a coward, and left him in disdain.