“Try swimming on your back,” said John.
“Can’t,” said Roger.
“It’s easy. Stand like this in the water, leaning back. Then put your ears under.”
Roger leant back.
“Ears right under,” said John.
“They are,” said Roger.
Even as he said it, there was a wild splashing, and Roger disappeared. He was up again at once, spluttering.
“I couldn’t keep my feet on the bottom,” he said. “They came up of themselves.”
“I knew they would,” said John. “If you hadn’t doubled up you’d have floated.”
Titty was swimming round them like a dog, paddling with her arms and legs, not in pairs, but one after another. “Try it again, Roger,” she said.
“I’ll put a hand under the back of your neck so that your mouth won’t go under,” said John.
Roger leant back once more, and rested his head on John’s hand. He pressed his ears under, and again his feet floated up.
“Kick,” said John. “Kick like a frog. Kick again. You’re swimming. Well done.”
“You really did swim on your back,” said Titty, as Roger struggled to his feet again.