They were alone in these shallow channels.

Fortunately the man faced forward, as sailors always do by instinct, turning his back upon the Captain and Barebone.
The painter was cast off now and, under his elbow, Barebone was slowly hauling in.

The dinghy was heavy and the "Petite Jeanne" was moving quickly through the water.

Suddenly Barebone rose to his feet, hauled in hand over hand, and when the dinghy was near enough, leaped across two yards of water to her gunwale.
The Captain heard the thud of his feet on the thwart, and looking back over his shoulder saw and understood in a flash of thought.

But even then he did not understand that Loo was aught else but a landsman half-recovered from seasickness.