"Yes," he said abruptly. "I will hire your boat if you will row me out to the sunken village. I want to look at it."
The Welshman eyed him suspiciously, perceived that he was not joking, and shook his head.
"Come," persisted Cargill, "I will make it a sovereign if you care to do it."
"Thank you, but indeed, no, sir," replied the Welshman. "Not if it wass a hundred sofereigns!"
"Surely you are not afraid?"
"It iss not fit," retorted the Welshman, turning on his heel.
It was probably this opposition that made young Cargill decide that it would be really worth while to defy the legend.
He did not approach the only other boatman. He considered the question of swimming. The knowledge that the distance there and back was nearly five miles did not render the feat impossible, for he was a champion swimmer.
But he soon thought of a better way. He went back to the hotel and sought out Bissett. Bissett was a fellow member of the Middle Temple, as contentedly briefless as himself. And Bissett possessed a motor-boat.
Bissett was not exactly keen on the prospect.