Except with leave, no boy was permitted to swim beyond the harbour mouth into the open.

But leave was constantly being applied for, and as constantly granted; and perhaps every boy, at some time or other, cast wistful glances at the black buoy bobbing a mile out at sea, and wondered when he, like Pontifex and Mansfield, and other of the Sixth, should be able to wear the image of it on his belt, and call himself a Templeton "shark ?" Heathcote, on his first appearance at the "Tub," acquitted himself creditably.

He took a mild header from the spring-board without more than ordinary splashing, and swam across the pool and back in fair style.

Gosse, who only went in from the low ledge, and swam half-way across and back, was good enough to give him some very good advice, and promise to make a good swimmer of him in time.

Whereat Heathcote looked grateful, and wished Dick had been there to astonish some of them.
One or two of the Fifth, including Swinstead and Birket, arrived as the youngsters were dressing.
"Hallo!" said Swinstead to Heathcote, "you here?
Where's your chum ?" "Asleep," said Heathcote, quite pleased to think he should be able to tell Dick he had been having a talk with Swinstead that morning.
"Have you been in ?" "Yes." "Can you swim ?" "Yes, a little," said Gosse, answering for him.