go by. Then they ran to the western side of the island, where the rock dropped straight down like a wall into deep water. John came swimming along, using breast stroke now for a change, quietly and not hurrying. He began to feel that it was a very long way down that western side.
“Stick to it,” shouted Titty.
“Go it,” shouted Roger.
Susan came up from the camp to the tall pine at the northern end of the island, and looked down from the high rocky wall. John had almost reached the lookout place. He was moving very slowly.
“You can get ashore just here if you’re done,” she called, “then you can rest and go on again.”
John tried to wave his hand, and got a lot of water into his mouth in doing so. He turned on his back and floated, blowing like a whale.
“You’re nearly round,” shouted Titty, who had run up to the lookout place and joined Susan.
John began again, kicking with his legs and using his arms only a little. He was round the head of the island. He went on swimming on his back. He turned over and lifted his head. For one moment he saw the landing-place, and Swallow lying there pulled up on the beach. His head went down, and he got more water in his mouth. He blew and spluttered. Still the landing-place was really not so very far off. He turned on his side and swam on. Somehow his arms would not pull, and his legs would not gather up and kick as hard as they ought to.
“You’ve done it,” shouted Titty.
“Come on,” shouted Roger.