“I can swim too,” said Roo proudly.
“Not round and round,” said Eeyore. “It’s much more difficult. I didn’t want to come swimming at all today,” he went on, revolving slowly. “But if, when in, I decide to practise a slight circular movement from right to left—or perhaps I should say,” he added, as he got into another eddy, “from left to right, just as it happens to occur to me, it is nobody’s business but my own.”
There was a moment’s silence while everybody thought.
“I’ve got a sort of idea,” said Pooh at last, “but I don’t suppose it’s a very good one.”
“I don’t suppose it is either,” said Eeyore.
“Go on, Pooh,” said Rabbit. “Let’s have it.”
“Well, if we all threw stones and things into the river on one side of Eeyore, the stones would make waves, and the waves would wash him to the other side.”
“That’s a very good idea,” said Rabbit, and Pooh looked happy again.
“Very,” said Eeyore. “When I want to be washed, Pooh, I’ll let you know.”
“Supposing we hit him by mistake?” said Piglet anxiously.
“Or supposing you missed him by mistake,” said Eeyore. “Think of all the possibilities, Piglet, before you settle down to enjoy yourselves.”
But Pooh had got the biggest stone he could carry, and was leaning over the bridge, holding it in his paws.
“I’m not throwing it, I’m dropping it, Eeyore,” he explained. “And then I can’t miss—I mean I can’t hit you. Could you stop turning round for a moment, because it muddles me rather?”
“No,” said Eeyore. “I like turning round.”
Rabbit began to feel that it was time he took command.
“Now, Pooh,” he said, “when I say ‘Now!’ you can drop it. Eeyore, when I say ‘Now!’ Pooh will drop his stone.”