Most of the pupils were boys of from thirteen to seventeen, although there were two older fellows in the class, Jay Fowler and Hatherton Williams.

Both were Sixth Formers and both were football men.
Mr.Conklin, the physical director, gave enthusiastic endorsement and encouragement.

Brimfield had never supplied instruction in swimming, something which the director had long regretted, and Mr.Conklin, could he have had his way, would have made attendance at Steve's swimming class compulsory for the younger boys and so have instituted a new feature in the course of physical instruction.

But Steve, willing to teach a few fellows who could already swim the finer points of the science, balked at teaching the rudiments to a half-hundred water-shy youths who would have to be coaxed and coddled.

Mr.Conklin tried his best to persuade him, but Steve refused firmly.
They had a whole lot of fun during that swimming hour.