Bert Lloyd's Boyhood: A Story from Nova Scotia

  CHAPTER XXI.

  LEARNING TO SWIM.

  Bert's appearance, when he made his way home with dripping clothes, andface still pale from what he had undergone, created no smallconsternation. His sister was particularly alarmed, and it took sometime to convince her that, once having got out of the grasp of thegreedy water, he was really in no more danger. Had she been permitted tohave her own way, she would have bundled him off to bed forthwith, andfilled up any little corners inside of him that the sea water had leftunoccupied, with warm raspberry vinegar. But Bert would none of it, andMrs. Lloyd, although a good deal startled at first, soon recovered herself-possession sufficiently to agree with him, when he insisted thatall he wanted was some dry clothes and a rest.

  The dry clothes were quickly furnished, and having put them on, hereturned to the sitting-room to tell them all about his rescue, Frankbeing at hand to fill in any details that he missed in the recital. Thetears stood in his mother's eyes, as he related what he had felt andthought during those eventful moments when his life hung in the balance;tears of distress, of sympathy, of joy, and finally of gratitude, as inglowing words he described how noble John Connors had dived away downinto the dark green depths to rescue him just in the nick of time.

  "Oh, Bert, darling," she exclaimed, when he had finished, folding him toher breast, "how good God was to send dear, brave Connors to your help!We cannot praise Him enough, and, dearest, don't you think He mustintend you to be something good and great for Him, when He thus sparedyour life? And that dear man Connors!--I feel as though I could kiss thehands that drew you from the water. Your father must go to-night, andtell him how grateful we are; and he must do more than that--he mustreward him well for running such a risk to save our boy."

  When Mr. Lloyd came home and learned what had happened, he made nopretence of concealing his emotion. The very thought of losing in thatdreadful way the boy who was the joy and pride of his life filled himwith horror, and no words could express his fervent gratitude toConnors, and to God, for sending so courageous a rescuer. So soon asdinner was over he set off in search of him, taking Bert with him.Connors's home was easily found, and Connors himself sat smoking hisevening pipe upon the door-step, as unconcernedly as though he had donenothing out of the way that afternoon.

  The object of Mr. Lloyd's visit was soon made known, but he found moredifficulty than he expected in giving such expression as he desired tothe gratitude he felt. Connors was quite willing to be thanked, andaccepted Mr. Lloyd's fervent words with a respectful acquiescence thatwell became him, but when Mr. Lloyd broached the subject of a moretangible reward, Connors quite as respectfully, but very firmly,refused.

  "I want no reward for saving your boy, sir. It's proud I am of pullingso fine a boy as that out of the water. I did no more than you'd do formy boy, sir, if he were in the same scrape," said he, in reply to Mr.Lloyd's delicately worded offer.

  "That may be, Connors. I'm sure I would do as you say, but all the sameI would feel much more comfortable if you would accept this purse assome expression of my gratitude," urged Mr. Lloyd.

  "And, thanking you kindly, sir, I'd feel much more comfortable if Ididn't take it," returned Connors, in a tone there was no mistaking. SoMr. Lloyd, resolving in his mind that he would find out some other wayof rewarding the worthy fellow, said no more then, and shortly aftertook his leave.

  As Bert and his father walked home together they were still talkingabout the event of the afternoon.

  "If you had been drowned, Bert, it would to some extent have been myfault," said Mr. Lloyd; "for I should not have so long neglectedteaching you to swim. A boy of your age ought to be well able to takecare of himself in the water, and I should have seen that you were.However, now that this escape of yours has waked me up, I will attend tothe matter at once. So we will begin to-morrow morning, Bert, and have aswimming lesson every day before breakfast."

  "Oh, father; I'm so glad," exclaimed Bert, skipping about joyfully. "Iwant to know how to swim ever so much, and I'll soon learn if you'llteach me."

  "All right, my boy. You see to waking me in good time, and I'll see thatyou learn to swim," replied Mr. Lloyd, clapping Bert affectionately onthe back.

  The next morning at six o'clock Bert was rapping loudly on his father'sdoor, and calling upon him to get up, and a quarter of an hour later thepair with towels on their arms were off in the direction of a secluded,deserted wharf that would just suit their purpose.

  On arriving at this place, Mr. Lloyd showed Bert how he proposed toteach him to swim, and it certainly was about as excellent a way ascould well have been devised. He had brought with him two things besidesthe towels: a piece of rope about the thickness of a clothes line, andten yards or more in length, and a strong linen band, two yards inlength. The linen band he put round Bert's shoulders in such a way thatthere was no possibility of its slipping, or interfering with the actionof his arms; and then the rope was so fastened to the band that whenBert was in the water his father, standing on the wharf above him, couldhold him in just the right position for swimming.

  The preparations having been completed, Bert was bidden descend thesteps and plunge into the water. He started off bravely enough, but whenhe reached the bottom step he hesitated. The water was at least ten feetin depth beneath him, and he had never been "over his head," as theysay, before, except when he came so near being drowned. Naturally,therefore, he shrank from committing himself to the deep in thisfashion.

  "Well, Bert, what's the matter? Are you afraid the water is too cold?"asked his father, as he noticed his hesitation.

  "No, father; not exactly," answered Bert, feeling half ashamed ofhimself.

  "You're afraid it's too deep, then?" suggested Mr. Lloyd. And Bertlooked up with a smile that showed he had hit the mark.

  "Never mind, my boy," said Mr. Lloyd, cheeringly. "You're all right. Iwon't let go of you. Jump in like a man."

  Bert hung back a moment; then, shutting his mouth tightly and closinghis eyes, he sprang boldly into the cool, green water. He went under alittle at first, but a slight tug on the rope brought him quickly to thetop, and recovering his breath and his self-possession at the same time,he struck out with his arms and kicked with his legs, according to thebest of his ability. His motions were sadly unskilful, as may be easilyimagined, and although they used up his strength pretty rapidly, theywould not have kept his head above water for a minute; but a gentlepressure on the rope in Mr. Lloyd's hand made that all right, and,feeling quite at his ease, Bert struggled away until he was tired out,and then his father, who had all the time been cheering and directinghim, drew him back to the steps, and the lesson was over.

  "You did very well, Bert; very well, indeed," said he, in tones of warmapproval, as Bert proceeded to rub off the salt water and get into hisclothes again. "I don't think it will take a great many lessons to makea swimmer of you."

  And Mr. Lloyd's confidence was well founded; for so earnestly did Bertgive himself to the business of learning to swim that by the end of afortnight he could go ten yards out and back without any help from therope at all. Another fortnight and the rope was no longer needed. Mr.Lloyd now went into the water with Bert, and swimming out to the middleof the dock, would have the boy come to him, and after resting upon hisbroad shoulders a moment, make his way back to the steps again.

  Thus, in little more than a month, Bert became quite able to take careof himself in the water under ordinary circumstances; and his father,feeling well satisfied with his proficiency, gave him liberty to go tothe wharves as often as he pleased--a boon Bert highly appreciated.

  A pleasure unshared by his faithful Frank was but half a pleasure toBert. Next in importance to his being able to swim himself was Frank'sacquiring the same invaluable accomplishment. Invaluable? Yes, one mightindeed rightly use a stronger term, and say indispensable; for theeducation of no boy is complete until he has mastered the art ofswimming. And if the boys knew their own interests as thoroughly astheir parents and guardians ought to know them, they w
ould agitate allover the land for the provision of swimming baths in connection withtheir schools, or in some other way that would ensure them theopportunity of learning what to do with themselves in the water, as wellas upon the land.

  Frank could swim a stroke or two before Bert took him in hand, andconsequently was soon able to dispense with the rope; but timid littleErnest Linton, who was the next pupil, took a lot of teaching, and thereseemed small prospect of his conquering his timidity sufficiently to "goit alone" before the swimming season would be over.

  The fame of Bert's swimming school spread among his playmates to anextent that threatened to be embarrassing. By the time they were halfway through the mid-summer holidays, a crowd of boisterous youngstersgathered every morning at the old wharf, and struggled for the use ofband and rope, until at last there had to be several of these provided.Then they had fine fun. A dozen boys would be in the water at the sametime--some of them expert swimmers, the others in all stages oflearning--and there would be races, splashing matches, unexpectedduckings, sly tricks upon the nervous learners, and all sorts of capers,such as might be expected from boys of their age and enterprise.

  By way of deepening the interest in this healthful amusement, theyorganised a competition, the prizes being supplied by their parents, whowere duly waited upon by a properly-authorised committee; and one fineAugust afternoon, the sleepy old wharf was made to fairly tremble withexcitement, as race followed race in quick succession, amid the cheeringand shouting of some two-score vigorous boys. Much to his delight, Franksucceeded in carrying off the first prize. He was a persistent,painstaking fellow when his interest was thoroughly aroused, and whileother chaps were skylarking about in the water, he had been practisinglong swims, the consequence of which was that at the competition--when,of course, the best prize was given for the longest race; the course,in this instance, being out to the head of the wharf, and back--Frankleft all the other contestants behind, and came in an easy winner.

  Bert was exceedingly pleased. He had not won any prizes himself, exceptan unimportant little second one; but Frank's success more than consoledhim, and he bore him off home with him in high glee, that the familymight share in the joy of the occasion.

  Nearly two years now had passed since the two friends first made oneanother's acquaintance, and the course of events had fully confirmed theexpectation of Bert's parents, that he would be far more likely toinfluence Frank for good than Frank would be to influence him for evil.There had been unmistakable improvement in Frank, both in manners andmorals. Constant association with a playmate brought up under homeinfluences so different from his own; the wise and kindly words that Mr.and Mrs. Lloyd lost no opportunity of speaking to him; the refinementand brightness of their home; the atmosphere of sunny religion thatpervaded it; and all these supplemented by an ever-interestingpresentation of common-sense Christianity at the hands of Mr. Silverevery Sunday afternoon, had worked deep into Frank's strong, steadfastnature, and without being distinctly conscious of it himself, he wasgrowing refined, pure, and religious in thought and desire, like thosewith whom it was the joy of his life to associate. The current of hisbeing had been turned Godward, and in him, though he knew it not, Berthad won the first star for his crown.