"I came to" (it is still he speaking) "in water, very fresh and of a pleasant taste.

After swimming around a minute or two, looking for a firm place to take hold of, I seized a big rope, and climbed without any trouble to the surface of the earth, which was not more than forty feet off.

It required nothing but wrists and a little gymnastic skill, and was not much of a feat, anyhow.

On getting on to the pavement, I found myself in the presence of a sort of night watchman, who was bawling the hours through the street, and who asked me insolently what I was doing there.

I thrashed him for his impudence, and the gentle exercise did me good, as it set my blood well in circulation again.