They were more frightened, I fancy, than damaged; anyhow, we smuggled them home, dripping as they were, and helped them to bed; and when, next morning, they turned up as usual, nothing the worse for their first swimming lesson, we were, as you may imagine, infinitely relieved.
This little adventure was the origin of the Parkhurst Swimming Club.
The doctor, on hearing of the affair, took the proper course; and, instead of forbidding us the river, he secured the services of one or two instructors, and had us all taught the art of swimming.

For three months, every day of the week, the School Creek was full of sputtering, choking youngsters.

Every new boy was hunted down to the river in turn, and by the end of the year there was hardly a boy at Parkhurst who could not keep his chin up in deep waters.
But this is a long introduction.
One day, two summers after that in which young Jobson and his friend had tumbled into the Colven, a large party of us were down at the bathing- place, indulging in what had now become a favourite summer pastime.

It so happened that our party was made up entirely of boys in the two senior classes of the school--the fifth and the sixth.

Most of us were landed and dressing, and while so occupied had leisure to watch the performances of those who still remained in the water.
Two of these specially interested us, who were swimming abreast about a hundred yards from the landing-place, evidently racing home.