"You no can sweem queek nuff to save him," said he.
"That remains to be seen," retorted Henry, sharply; for the youth was one of the best swimmers on the island,--at least the best among the whites, and better than many of the natives, although some of the latter could beat him.

"At any rate," he continued, "you would not have me stand idly by while my friend is drowning, would you ?" "Him's not drownin' yet," answered the matter-of-fact native.

"Me 'vise you to let Jakolu go.

Hims can sweem berer dan you.

See, here am bit plank, too,--me take dat." "Ha! that's well thought of," cried Henry, who was now ready to plunge; "fetch it me, quick; and mind, Jakolu, keep your eye on me; when I hold up both hands you'll know that I'm dead beat, and that you must come off and help us both." So saying, he seized the small piece of driftwood which the native brought to him, and, plunging into the sea, struck out vigorously in the direction in which the pastor was still perseveringly, though slowly, swimming.
While Henry was stripping, his eye had quickly and intelligently taken in the facts that were presented to him on the bay.