Maurice Leblanc

“ Velmot pushed the boat back and landed, grumbling:
“It's a dog's life! What a fool the brute is!” As arranged, he sat down again, after bringing the chair and table to the water's edge, poured himself out a glass of liqueur and lit his pipe:
“Here's to your good health, Massignac,” he said. “At the present rate, I can see that, in twenty minutes from now, you'll be having a drink too. Whatever you do, don't forget to call me. I'm listening for all I'm worth, old chum.” ”

“ Velmot was certainly leaving the field clear for me.
Without losing an instant, I passed by the chair, threw over the table and easily found the boat:
“I'm here!” I shouted to Massignac. “Hold on!”
With a strong push I reached one of the stakes, repeating:
“Hold on! Hold on! I'm here!”
I seized the rope in both hands, at the level of the water, and felt for the hook, expecting to strike against Massignac's head.
I touched nothing. The rope had slipped down; the hook was in the water and carried no weight. The body must have gone to the bottom; and the current had swept it away. ”

“ He splashed a little water over Massignac's head with the boat-hook. Then he continued, with a laugh:
“You quite grasp the position, don't you? The rope by which you're fastened, like an ox in a stall, is fixed to the two stakes by a couple of slip-knots, nothing more... so that, at the least movement, the knots slip down an inch or so. You will have noticed it just now, when I let you go. Blinkety blump! You went down a half a head lower! Besides that, the weight alone of your body is enough.... You're slipping, old fellow, you're slipping all the time; and nothing can stop you... ”