the club monthly - august

'Doesn't that girl over there Mother, look as if she were going out too far, she'll get caught in the current and she's beyond the net now' called Cora Harvey. 

'Yes dear you had better swim out and ask one of the strong swimmers to warn her.' replied Mrs Harvey. Pulling on her cap over her head Cora let the towel drop and away she ran across the golden sands of Folkestone and into the sea. 'Whew' she gasped shaking her head, 'the tide's going out.' She looked out to the girl, who had turned and was swimming slowly back 'Mm she's alright but I'll just ask this gentleman here to keep an eye on her because she oughtn't to be out there unless she's a very strong swimmer'. Cora told the man who said 'He'd look after her.' 

Cora was practising for her Swimming Badge for the Guides and the time passed very quickly. She was floating about with her eyes closed when she collided with a lady.

'I'm sorry' she spluttered when she came up again. 'Uh! It's quite alright' replied the lady and swam away. 'Well now I'll just have a good swim before I go back.' There were only two or three ladies in really out far and Cora was the only girl. It was not a good time to bathe as the tide was going and outside the net the current was very strong. Cora took a good swim out to the net and looked out to sea. 

'Don't I wish I could go out there' she sighed wistfully, 'but it's forbidden ground. Lucky girl that being allowed to go there alone, Jove that's the same girl that Mother and I saw when I came in.'

She was floating back when she heard a sharp scream in front of her.

'Uh help!' It was the girl and she was under out there being swept out to sea. No one had heard her scream. Cora didn't wait but jumped over the net by means of a spring board and away she swam. 

'Oh will I ever get near her' was her agonising thought. She was under for a second time when Cora got a hold on her. 

'Now for it' thought Cora 'if I can keep her up. Lie quiet can't you?' she shouted to the now frightened girl.

'Yes yes, I'll try' and the next thing Cora knew was that the girl was unconscious and the current was fast carrying them away.

Cora swam till she couldn't stick any longer, and was just going to let go when she realised she was at the net. She weakly called for 'help!' and two men heard her, in a second she was being hauled over and soon was lying on the beach. 

'What's wrong? I'm alright! Where's the girl' she demanded sitting up. Two ladies were seen running over the sand towards the group. 

'Cora! Cora!' 

'Phyllis! Phyllis!' 

'Mother it's alright' cried both girls together.

There upon followed explanations and as neither of the girls were hurt, nothing but good came of Phyllis' adventure. 

When both girls a few days later were talking together, Cora said to Phyllis, 

'What school do you go to?'

'I am going to a new place called Merton House in Kent, ever heard of it?'

'I jolly well have, that's my school, the best out'.

A month later two girls were joyfully received by a dozen or more of Cora's class. Cora was very proud when she showed her watch presented to her by the grateful Mrs Morduant. 

'And I got my Swimming Badge out of it' she concluded triumphantly. 

The End

1 lb mashed potatoes. Handful of all vegetables. Boiled. 3/4 lb meat. Salt. Water. Flour. 

Put all veg and meat in pie dish. Mix flour, water + salt. Pour over it. Make crust of potatoes. Bake (1?) hour. Serve hot with good rich gravy.