who was a boy of about
fourteen, ran back a dozen yards from the river's brink and threw up his
arms.

"One, two, three, cock warning!" he shouted, ran by me swiftly, and
plunged into the river with a tremendous splash.

I felt horrified, but the next moment his head reappeared bobbing about,
and he swam along easily and well.

"Oh it's so lovely," he cried. "Come along."

"All right!" cried one of his friends, sitting down on the edge of the
bank, and lowering himself in gently, to stand for a few moments up to
his arm-pits, and then duck his head down twice, rubbing his eyes to get
the water out, and then stooping down and beginning to swim slowly and
laboriously, and with a great deal of puffing.

"Oh, what a cowardly way of getting in!" said the third, who stood on
the bank, hesitating.

"Well, let's see you, then," cried George Day, who was swimming close at
hand. "Jump in."

"Oh, I can't jump in like you do," said the other; "it gives me the
headache."

"Why, you're afraid."

"No, I'm not."

"Yes, you are. Come in, or I'll pull you down."

"There!"

The boy jumped in feet first, and as soon as he came up he struggled to
the bank, and puffed and panted and squeezed the water out of his hair.

"Oh my, isn't it jolly cold!" he cried. "It takes all my breath away."

"Cold!" cried the others; "it's lovely. Here you, Dennison, come in."

"I can't swim," I said, feeling a curious shrinking on the one side,
quite a temptation on the other.

"And you never will," cried George Day, "if you don't try. It's so
easy: look here!"

He swam a few yards with the greatest ease, turned round, and began
swimming slowly back.

"Go on--faster," I cried, for I was interested.

"Can't," he cried, "tide runs so sharp. If I didn't mind I should be
swept right away. Come in. I'll soon teach you."

I shook my head.

"Oh, you are a fellow. Come on."

"No, I sha'n't bathe," I said in a doubtful tone.

"Oh, here's a chap! I say isn't he a one! Always tied to his mother's
apron-string: can't play cricket, or rounders, or football, and can't
swim. I say, isn't he a molly."

The others laughed, and being now out of their misery, as they termed
it, they were splashing about and enjoying the water, but neither of
them went far from the bank.

"I say, why don't you come in?" cried the boy who jumped in feet first.
"You will like it so."

"Yes: come along, and try to swim. I can take five strokes. Loo