Part 51 (2/2)
”Yes, Jem, it does”
”Such a short way to slide down, and no fear o' their breaking, same as there was in that cock-loft What d'yer say?”
”What to?”
”Let's slide down and swim for it 'Tarn't quarter of a mile You could do that easy”
”Yes, Jeot tired Let's go”
”But the sharks”
”There I goes again I always forgets them sharks; but look here, my lad, it's dark as pitch”
”Quite, Jem”
”We can't see twenty yards afore us, not clear”
”Not ten, Jeh the air We couldn't see an inch through water”
”What of that?”
”More couldn't the sharks”
”Think not, Jem?”
”I feel 'bout sure on it Look here, Mas' Don, I arn't got any uinea that all the sharks are at home and fast asleep; and if there's any of 'e about in the streets--I mean in the sea--it's so dark that they couldn't see more than an inch before their noses; so let's open our knives ready, in case one should come, so that we could dive down and stab him, same as the natives do, and then swim on ashore I'll risk it: will you?”
Don was silent for a few moments
”Don't say _yes_, my lad, if you'd rayther not,” said Jem, kindly ”I don't want to persuade you”
”I'o”
”Oh, never you o down each rope, or both down one?”
”Both down this one close here, and whoever goes down first can wait for the other Yes, Jeo first”
”When?”
”Now, at once”