But I was young, and had never looked death in the face, so, being afraid and astonished, I made what seemed the best of an ill business, and, though my face reddens yet at the thought of it, I leaped in and swam back like a dog to heel.
"Behold me," I said, making as brave a countenance as I might in face of necessity.
"Well done, Norman Leslie de Pitcullo," he snarled, baring his yellow teeth.

"This is the obedience which the young owe to the Church.

Now, ferry me over; you are my boat." "You will drown, man," I said.

"Not while you swim." Then, unbuckling his frock, he packed it as he had seen me do, bade me put it on my head, and so stepped out into the water, holding forth his arm to put about my neck.

I was for teaching him how to lay it on my shoulder, and was bidding him keep still as a plank of wood, but he snarled-- "I have sailed on a boat of flesh before to-day." To do him justice, he kept still as a log of wood, and so, yielding partly to the stream, I landed him somewhat further down than the place where my own clothes were lying.