Read it through once

The swimmer muttered, “Hang him, he smelt a rat and never delivered the letter!—but it's all right, I'm not going to fetch up the subject.” And he crawled out and came dripping and draining to shake hands. First one and then another of the conspirators showed up cautiously—armed to the teeth—took in the amicable situation, then ventured warily forward and joined the love-feast.