“Can you swim?”
“Yes, a little,” said Gosse, answering for him. “We’re about equal.”
Heathcote couldn’t stand the barefaced libel meekly.
“Why, you can’t swim once across!” he said, scornfully, “and you can’t go in off the board!”
The Fifth-form boys laughed.
“Ha, ha!” said Swinstead, “he’s letting you have it, Gossy.”
“He’s telling beastly crams,” said Gosse, “and I’ll kick him when we get back.”
“I’ll swim you across the pool and back, first!” said Heathcote.
The seniors were delighted. The new boy’s spirit pleased them, and the prospect of taking down the junior pleased them still more.
“That’s fair,” said Birket. “Come on, strip.”