Posted by Robert Thompson on May 14, 1999 at 22:27:50 from tenor1.demon.co.uk:
In Reply to: First Person Colon posted by John Richardson on May 14, 1999 at 00:07:52:
The colon passage is not in the first draft of Swallows and Amazons. It is quite possible that AR included the passage for clarification purposes after the removal of the Stephen Spurrier illustrations for the first edition. Spurrier originally drew a very clear picture of Swallow approaching the colon-like leading lights (although in his version John is going to have trouble sculling over the stern, as he has forgotten to unship the rudder).
Interestingly the chapter title reference is Leading Lights 2, the previous chapter (Leading Lights 1) being that in which Nancy shows John how to use the harbour marks.
Page 97 of the Amazon Publication The Swallows and the Amazons has the relevant picture.
I never had any problem with the unique "first person" narrative - I think that as a child I took it in my stride.
Robert Thompson