A Sporting Act

Press, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22317, 3 February 1938, Page 7 (Supplement)

A Sporting Act

Prue Hall had not been at Mayfield School a term before she was nicknamed "Ducky” because she could do such amazing things in the water. She could swim three miles and she could dive off the top Of the tall tank stand behind the diving board. And for her trouble Miss Ward, the headmistress, warned her that if she ever caught Prue diving off that tank stand again she’d forbid her going near the baths for the rest of the term. Dangerous it was, said the head, and a bad example to other daring spirits who were less skilful than Prue. There was no denying that Prue was a most skilful diver and a great performer of water stunts. Rita West declares she saw Prue walking on her hands at the bottom of the baths.at the deep end. And now, at the end of the third term, the Mayfield girls were all practising to gain second place in the swimming sports. No one imagined she could beat “Ducky.” Prue, however, had her doubts about winning the 33 yards sprint She had seen Mary Murfitt of Melville House do a very fast- sprint one morning the week before. Prue knew if she herself won every event except the sprint and if Mary won the sprint and was runner-up in everything else, Melville would win the House cup, for there were several good swimmers m Melville ■who would be sure to fill third place in all events, and Prue’s house, Doncaster, was absolutely depending on her to win back tne cup which Melville had taken from them five years before and had kept it ever since. Prue was in the baths practising short fast sprints _as often as possible. One morning she had a race with Mary, but after keeping level for 30 yards Mary won easily over the last few yards. “Five weeks to-morrow is swimming sports day,” said Prue, staring at the study ceiling. “Yes, I know,” replied Ngaire, her friend, “but would you mind coming back to earth and helping me with this algebra. Ducky?” Ngaire had not the slightest interest in swimming or anything else that required a lot of energy. With the sum worked out, Prue's thoughts wandered back to thoughts of the swimming sports. “I’ll give- you 6d if you’re not thinking about swimming," said Ngaire, good humouredly. “You’d better keep your money,” Prue laughed. “Ngaire, do you think there’d be awful trouble if I went over to the baths to practise a bit of speed now?” Prue asked later. “Yes, I do. You’d probably be barred from the sports altogether if vou did that.” “But I’ve got to have a lot more practice or Mary will leave me in the spray in that sprint, but if I stick to it I might just beat her by inches. It’s worth trying for. Every win means five points for the House and we do want Doncaster to win, or don’t you care?” “Listen to me. Ducky, my fish,” answered Ngaire, “we would rather Doncaster lost the five points awarded for that race than lose all the points you’d throw away if you were barred from entering for the sports altogether.” When every girl in the dormitory was asleep, Prue put on her bathing costume, .wrapped a towel round her and crept downstairs. There was a full moon shining, and Prue ***> a»-fl<aao fhrlll-as£bi-Jaajiaifia«

(By Tui Thomas)

lessly over the tennis court and down the path to the baths. At the door she stopped dead. There was someone inside, swimming quickly, but stealthily. She peeped through the door to see who it was. The swimmer was Mary Murfitt. “Hullo,” said Prue. Mary stopped swimming. “Go back at once,” she said to Prue, "and don't dare tell anyone you saw me here.” “Come on, be a sport and let me practise with you,” Prue coaxed. “No. Go back or I shall report you,” was the reply. Prue went back, for Mary was a Pl Next day Prue was called to the head’s office. . , “Prudence Hall, I saw a girl coming out of the baths late last night. Was it you?” “Yes M “I thought so. Now if you go into the baths at night again I shall forbid you to swim in the sports. You are getting a little too ke ®“ swinging. It is time you got some

and took an interest in other things. And there is to be no more swimming for you for a week. You may go now.” So Mary hadn’t been caught and she had. Mary would be sure to win the race now if she kept up the night practices. Prue wondered if Mary knew she had been caught. If Mary didn’t know she would probably go on practising at night and be caught, too. Prue made up her mind to warn Mary when she saw her. The chance came at tea time. “I say, Mary,” said Prue under her breath. “Yes.” “Miss Ward saw me coming out of the baths last night. She gave me a pretty stiff warning.” “Serve you right, you had no permission to be there.” “Had you?” asked Prue, amazed. Mary walked away. “That means she didn't have and that she will keep up the midnight swimming.” thought Prue, jumping to conclusions as she .jvas apt to do. One night about al week before the swimming sports Prue wakened with a start. She was sure someghe sat up jn

bed and heard it again. “Mary’s in those baths again and she’s got cramp,” flashed through her mind. Prue shot out of bed and sped over to the baths. The water was as smooth as glass, no one had disturbed that still pool since she had heard that shriek. Just then Billy, the cook’s cat, came out of the dressing shed and gave another call. That was the noise she had heard. Wouldn’t Mary laugh when she told her. In the meantime she d better get back to bed. “Prudence,” called the headnustress from the bottom of the stairs in the hall, “have you been to the baths again?”. m , “Yes, but—.” The cat story sounded very feeble. “I meant what I said about going to the baths at night You must stay in for an hour after school every night for a week.” That, of course, meant shed be doing an imposition while the girls were having their swimming sports on Wednesday. . _ From her form window Prue watched the girls waiting outside the door of the baths, swinging their towels and swim suits. She hadn t done a line of her French exercise and she knew there would be trouble about that, but she couldn’t put her mind on French indefinite

- when the swimming sports were about to begin. Mary Murfitt walked across to the baths and looked up at Prue. She gave Prue a wave and a friendly smile. Mary had been very sympathetic and understanding about Prue's punishment. Ngaire insisted that Mary had even pleaded with Miss Ward to let Prue off her imposition just for that day, but the headmistress would not hear of it. As she watched Mary. Prue wondered why she was not carrying a towel or suit. Then she saw the sports mistress open the door. An exclamation went up and several girls came running back to the school. Kita burst into the room. “Prue, the baths are empty!” she cried, “and Mary admits she pulled the plug.” A few days later the swimming sports were held. The 33 yards senior sprint was held last. “Get ready, girls,” said the starter and the next instant six girls were churning up the water. Prue was leading and looked as if she must win. But Mary was gaining on her over the last few yards. Supporters of Melville and Doncaster bellowed at the top, of their lungs, for this race would decide Which-Of. the jam yrir>

the senior championship cup. Q*<B the last five yards was the exciting contest ever seen at field. Mary was gradually gaflSWB on Prue, who was tiring. AfflK .to go—and they crossed the B&Plgm ing line together. The race dead-heat. .;Hg88: Prue’s thoughts wandered DW’Wt;. thoughts of the swimming sport*. J'* l -

MY IMPRESSIONS OF LONDON

(By Margaret Hall, 12 yeart^^fc.

Last year I went Home to B#r land to see my aunts. As it Coronation year it was more ing than ever. In my will describe the different and things, such as the Royal W Tower of London, also lots of °~j~~ ’ places, and the Coronation. night after the Coronation we w*gjT uothe River Thames to GreenWw, and saw lots of places floodlit. We were very excited the day w% ■ arrived in London. It was a lovely* frosty day, and a thick mist In®* over the Channel. All round, wp* den by the mist, bells werecW, ing, sirens going, and there was w"| throb of the engines. ‘V It was quite hoc as we went ; the River Thames, and we pßSffr lots of interesting places. , On arriving at Tilbury Docks, *» went through the Customs. place was packed with people*®* trunks. Porters rushed backwanw and forwards with big trolleys-. Then to the train, past poor P»“ of London: then the station and W ■ aunts; and the taxi to Garrick sUWfc near Covent Garden Market, wn*w we were to stay. Everyone talking at once. The house stayed in was above a jewdlas shop, and we had to climb 73 Stan* to get to our flat. x From a window we watched traffic streaming below. *“2* were cars everywhere, so I tnous*» at first. People thronged the payments, and on all sides were buildings, wide streets, traffic W»°“> buses, beacons.' There end to the things that were new w me.

THE EVENING SUN

The evening sun was sinkingi On low green hills and cluster* 5 * 4 | It was a ’scene as fair and | As ever felt the soothing turtax. That cools the grass when da? ® And gives the waves a bright* And makes the soft white clouds sail on— . , Like spirits of ethereal dew. Which all the morn had hovered The azure flowers, where t**eT And now 6 to Heaven Wh«'their bright glories *>« 3t firSt -EMILY Ray ‘ The ray is a kind a very flat bocy and t cnecies. fins. There are about J”. In Britain they are usually skate. Armageddon j „ in the Armageddon - c c ordl^ he gible. Revelation of it. John ft? is the great battle m en[ . last conflict between good aaa 4s,ga bafaueht*