Posted by Karelia on October 24, 2000 at 01:48:08 from 139.134.190.189:
I am new here (and may not be a regular reader / poster as I tend to get addicted to literary discussion groups!) but I have really enjoyed reading all the AR-related mails. Recently I was wondering about something from an AR book and thought this would be the best place to pose the question. However I tried to post this message a few days ago but it doesn't seem to have appeared on the board - so here goes again.
I have just re-read Coot Club and was once again wondering why, from when the Margoletta is holed until the D&Gs arrive on the scene, everyone aboard Titmouse and Teasel immediately assumes that the Hullabaloos are doomed to drown? I know they aren't wearing lifejackets (like no one seems to in AR, but I guess after all it was the 30s) - but it isn't as though they are out at sea - so why can't they just swim to the shallows at the side of the channel? Or can't they swim at all? Was it not usual for people to be able to swim? It did occur to me that maybe the tide was so strong that even the best swimmer in the world would have no chance against it...