about three to four
We walked to the cliff edge and looked down upon the beach ; the boat was still there , exactly as we had left her . Stripping to the buff , we deposited our clothes on the boat 's deck and entered the water , which was of just the right temperature to be refreshing ; and while I swam delightedly hither and thither , Master Julius , who was extremely fastidious in the matter of personal cleanliness , carefully removed all traces of the grime that had unavoidably accumulated during the voyage from the reef . Then , my swim ended , I did the same , after which I gave my companion his first swimming lesson , the boy showing such aptitude , and acquitting himself so well , that when we finally left the water he was actually able to swim a stroke or two unaided . Before dressing we explored the upper end of the harbour , where the stream discharged into it , and were fortunate enough to find a spot at which , in about three to four feet of water , the women could bathe with enjoyment and absolute safety . Having dressed , I entered the boat and procured the carpenter 's axe , after which we ascended to the top of the cliff . Near there we met Mrs Vansittart and her daughter , both of whom declared themselves greatly the better for a sound and refreshing night 's rest . They were about to prospect for a spot where they might enjoy the luxury that Julius and I had just been indulging in ; so , leaving the boy to direct them to the place which we had discovered , and afterwards to gather bananas for our breakfast , I shouldered the axe and set off northward , intent upon an exploration of the aperture in the cliff , which I believed might prove to be the mouth of a cave .