Dip in the Pool

by
Roald Dahl
ON THE MORNING of immediate change of blowing up for a very 'Excuse me,' he said,
the third day, the sea mood over the whole dirty night.' There 'but could you tell
calmed. Even the room. A few of the was just the faintest me something,
most delicate passengers glanced suggestion of relish please?' The purser,
passengers - those up from their food, in the way he said it. small and fat and
who had not been hesitating, waiting, A steward came red, bent forward to
seen around the ship almost listening for hurrying up and listen.
since sailing time - the next roll, smiling sprinkled water on 'What's the trouble,
emerged from their nervously, little secret the tablecloth Mr Botibol?, 'What I
cabins and crept on glimmers of between the plates. want to know is
to the sun deck apprehension in their The excitement this.' The man's face
where the deck eyes. Some were subsided. Most of was anxious and the
steward gave them completely unruffled, the passengers purser was watching
chairs and tucked some were openly continued with their it. 'What I want to
rugs around their smug, a number of meal. A small know is will the
legs and left them the smug ones number, including captain already have
lying in rows, their making jokes about Mrs Renshaw, got made his estimate
faces upturned to the food and weather in carefully to their feet on the day's run you
pale, almost heatless order to torture the and threaded their know, for the
January sun. It had few who were ways with a kind of auction pool? I mean
been moderately beginning to suffer. concealed haste before it began to get
rough the first two The movement of the between the tables rough like this?' The
days, and this ship then became and through the purser, who had
sudden calm and the rapidly more and doorway. prepared himself to
sense of comfort that more violent, and 'Well,' the purser receive a personal
it brought created a only five or six said, 'there she goes.' confidence, smiled
more genial minutes after the first He glanced around and leaned back in
atmosphere over the roll had been noticed, with approval at the his seat to relax his
whole ship. By the she was swinging remainder of his full belly. 'I should
time evening came, heavily from side to flock who were say so - yes,' he
the passengers, with side, the passengers sitting quiet, looking answered. He didn't
twelve hours of good bracing themselves in complacent, their bother to whisper his
weather behind them, their chairs, leaning faces reflecting reply, although
were beginning to feel against the pull as in openly that automatically he
confident, and at a car cornering. extraordinary pride lowered his voice, as
eight o'clock that At last the really bad that travellers seem one does when
night the main roll came, and Mr to take in being answering a
dining-room was William Botibol, recognised as 'good whisperer.
filled with people sitting at the sailors'. ‘About how long ago
eating and drinking purser's table, saw When the eating was do you think he did
with the assured, his plate of poached finished and the it?’. 'Some time this
complacent air of turbot with coffee had been afternoon. He
seasoned sailors. The hollandaise sauce served, Mr Botibol, usually does it in the
meal was not half sliding suddenly who had been afternoon.' 'About
over when the away from under his unusually grave and what time?' 'Oh, I
passengers became fork. There was a thoughtful since the don't know. Around
aware, by the slight flutter of excitement, rolling started, four o'clock I should
friction between their everybody reaching suddenly stood up guess, 'Now tell me
bodies and the seats for plates and and carried his cup another thing. How
of their chairs, that wineglasses. Mrs of coffee around to does the captain
the big ship had Renshaw, seated at Mrs Renshaw's decide which
actually started the purser's right, vacant place, next to number it shall be?
rolling again. It was gave a little scream the purser. He Does he take a lot of
very gentle at first, and clutched that seated himself in her trouble over that?'
just a slow, lazy gentleman's arm. chair, then The purser looked at
leaning to one side, 'Going to be a dirty immediately leaned the anxious frowning
then to the other, but night,' the purser over and began to face of Mr. Botibol
it was enough to said, looking at Mrs whisper urgently in and he smiled,
cause a subtle, Renshaw. 'I think it's the purser's ear. knowing quite well

2
what the man was talking about his the great waves were exactly what it had
driving at. 'Well, you chance: the slightly welling up high and been the last two
see, the captain has open lips, the white horses were days with the
a little conference upstretched riding against the numbers selling for
with the navigating eyebrows, the head wind with plumes of between three and
officer, and they forward and cocked spray behind them four hundred a
study the weather a little to one side - as they went. piece. Being a British
and a lot of other that desperately 'Pretty bad out there, ship they did it in
things, and then straining, half wasn't it, sir?' the pounds, but he liked
they make their hypnotised, listening elevator man said on to do his thinking in
estimate.' ... look that comes to the way down. his own currency.
Mr Botibol nodded, all of them when Mr Botibol was Seven thousand
pondering this they are hearing combing his hair dollars was plenty of
answer for a something straight back into place with money. My
moment. from the horse's a small red comb. goodness, yes! And
Then he said, 'Do mouth. 'Now 'Do you think we've what he would do he
you think the suppose you were slackened speed at would get them to
captain knew there allowed to buy a all on account of the pay him in hundred-
was bad weather number, which one weather?' he asked. dollar bills and he
coming today?' 'I would you choose 'Oh my word yes, sir. would take it ashore
couldn't tell you,' the today?' Mr Botibol We slackened off in the inside pocket
purser replied. He whispered. 'I don't considerable since of his jacket. No
was looking into the know what the range this started you got problem there. And
small black eyes of is yet,' the purser to slacken off speed right away, yes right
the other man, patiently answered. in weather like this away, he would buy
seeing the two single 'They don't or you'll be throwing a Lincoln
little sparks of announce the range the passengers all convertible. He
excitement dancing till the auction starts over the ship.' Down would pick it up on
in their centres. 'I after dinner. And I'm in the smoking-room the way from the
really couldn't tell really not very good people were already ship and drive it
you, Mr Botibol. I at it anyway. I'm gathering for the home just for the
wouldn't know.' 'If only the purser, you auction. They were pleasure of seeing
this gets any worse it know.' At that point grouping themselves Ethel’s face when
might be worth Mr Botibol stood up. politely around the she came out the
buying some of the 'Excuse me, all,' he various tables, the front door and
low numbers. What said, and he walked men a little stiff in looked at it.
do you think?' The carefully away over their dinner jackets, Wouldn't that be
whispering was more the swaying floor a little pink and something, to see
urgent, more between the other overshaved and stiff Ethers face when he
anxious now. tables, and twice he beside their cool glided up to the door
'Perhaps it will,' the had to catch hold of white-armed women. in a brand-new pale-
purser said. 'I doubt the back of a chair to Mr Botibol took a green Lincoln
whether the old man steady himself chair close to the convertible! Hello,
allowed for a really against the ship's auctioneer's table. Ethel, honey, he
rough night. It was roll. He crossed his legs, would say, speaking
pretty calm this 'The sun deck, folded his arms, and very casual. I just
afternoon when he please,' he said to settled himself in his thought I'd get you a
made his estimate.' the elevator man. seat with the rather little present. I saw it
The others at the The wind caught him desperate air of a in the window as I
table had become full in the face as he man who has made went by, so I thought
silent and were stepped out on to the a tremendous of you and how you
trying to hear, open deck. He decision and refuses were always wanting
watching the purser staggered and to be frightened. one. you like it,
with that intent, grabbed hold of the The pool, he was honey?
half-cocked, listening rail and held on tight telling himself, He would say you
look that you can see with both hands, would probably be like the colour? And
also at the race track and he stood there around seven then he would watch
when they are trying looking out over the thousand dollars. her face. The
to overhear a trainer darkening sea where That was almost auctioneer was

3
standing up behind roughly the same besides Mr Botibol much there was in
his table now. amount. seemed to have the pool.
'Ladies and The ship was rolling noticed that the They added it up
gentlemen!' he heavily, and each weather was rough. after the last number
shouted. 'The time she went over, One hundred and had been sold and it
captain has the wooden panelling forty . . . fifty . . . came to twenty-one
estimated the day's on the walls creaked There it stopped. hundred-odd
run, ending midday as if it were going to The auctioneer pounds. That was
tomorrow, at five split. The passengers raised his hammer. around six thousand
hundred and fifteen held on to the arms 'Going at one dollars. Ninety per
miles. As usual we of their chairs, hundred and cent to go to the
will take the ten concentrating upon fifty . . .' 'Sixty!' Mr winner, ten per cent
numbers on either the auction. Botibol called, and to seamen's
side of it to make up 'Low field! ' the every face in the charities. Ninety per
the range. That auctioneer called room turned and cent of six thousand
makes it five out. 'The next looked at him. was five thousand
hundred and five to number is low field.' 'Seventy!' 'Eighty!' Mr four hundred. Well-
five hundred and Mr Botibol sat up Botibol called. that was enough. He
twenty-five. And of very straight and 'Ninety!' 'Two could buy the
course for those who tense. He would hundred!' Mr Botibol Lincoln convertible
think the true figure wait, he had decided, called. He wasn't and there would be
will be still farther until the others had stopping now, not for something left over,
away, there'll be "low finished bidding, anyone. too. With this
field" and "high field" then he would jump There was a pause. gratifying thought he
sold separately as in and make the last ‘Any advance on two went off, happy and
well. bid. He had figured hundred pounds?' excited, to his cabin.
Now, we'll draw the that there must be at Sit still, he told When Mr Botibol
first numbers out of least five hundred himself. Sit awoke the next
the hat . . . here we dollars in his absolutely still and morning he lay quite
are. . . five hundred account at the bank don't look up. It's still for several
and twelve?, The at home, probably unlucky to look up. minutes with his
room became quiet. nearer six. That was Hold your breath. No eyes shut, listening
The people sat still about two hundred one's going to bid for the sound of the
in their chairs, all pounds - over two you up so long as gale, waiting for the
eyes watching the hundred. This ticket you hold your roll of the ship.
auctioneer. There wouldn't fetch more breath. There was no sound
was a certain tension than that. 'Going for two of any gale and the
in the air, and as the ‘As you all know,' the hundred pounds . . .' ship was not rolling.
bids got higher, the auctioneer was The auctioneer had a He jumped up and
tension grew. This saying, 'low field pink bald head and peered out of the
wasn't a game or a covers every number there were little porthole. The sea -
joke; you could be below the smallest beads of sweat Oh Jesus God was
sure of that by the number in the range, sparkling on top of smooth as glass, the
way one man would in this case every it. 'Going . . .!' Mr great ship was
look across at number below five Botibol held his moving through it
another who had hundred and five. breath. .Going . .. fast, obviously
raised his bid So, if you think this Gone!' The man making up for time
smiling perhaps, but ship is going to cover banged the hammer lost during the night.
only the lips smiling, less than five on the table. Mr Mr Botibol turned
the eyes bright and hundred and five Botibol wrote out a away and sat slowly
absolutely cold. miles in the twenty- cheque and handed down on the edge of
Number five hundred four hours ending at it to the auctioneer's his bunk. A fine
and twelve was noon tomorrow, you assistant, then he electricity of fear was
knocked down for better get in and buy settled back in his beginning to prickle
one hundred and ten this number. So chair to wait for the under the skin of his
pounds. The next what am I bid?' It finish. He did not stomach. He hadn't
three or four went clear up to one want to go to bed a hope now. One of
numbers fetched hundred and thirty before he knew how the higher numbers
pounds. Others

4
was certain to win it his eyes and mouth behind. What was time. Remember
after this. both opening wide in the time? Nine- what you told
'Oh, my God,' he a kind of shocked fifteen. The sooner yourself a few
said aloud. 'What surprise. For it was the better, then. Do minutes ago in the
shall I do?' What, for at this moment that it now and get it over cabin when you were
example, would the idea came. It hit with. Have to do it changing? You
Ethel say? It was him hard and quick, soon, because the remember that?
simply not possible and he jumped up time limit was The thought of
to tell her that he from his bed, terribly midday. leaping off a ship
had spent almost all excited, ran over to Mr Botibol was both into the ocean a
of their two years' the porthole and frightened and thousand miles from
savings on a ticket in looked out again. excited when he the nearest land had
the ship's pool. Nor Well, he thought, stepped out on to the made Mr Botibol - a
was it possible to why not? Why ever sun deck in his cautious man at the
keep the matter not? sports clothes. His best of times -
secret. To do that he The sea was calm small body was wide unusually advertent.
would have to tell and he wouldn't at the hips, tapering He was by no means
her to stop drawing have any trouble upward to extremely satisfied yet that this
cheques. And what keeping afloat until narrow sloping woman he saw
about the monthly they picked him up. shoulders, so that it before him was
instalments on the He had a vague resembled, in shape absolutely certain to
television set and the feeling that someone at any rate, a give the alarm when
Encyclopaedia had done this thing bollard. His white he made his jump.
Britannica? before, but that skinny legs were In his opinion there
Already he could see didn't prevent him covered with black were two possible
the anger and from doing it again. hairs, and he came reasons why she
contempt in the The ship would have cautiously out on might fail him.
woman's eyes, the to stop and lower a deck, threading Firstly, she might be
blue becoming grey boat, and the boat softly in his tennis deaf and blind. It
and the eyes would have to go shoes. was not very
themselves back maybe half a Nervously he looked probable, but on the
narrowing as they mile to get him, and around him. There other hand it might
always did when then it would have to was only one other be so, and why take
there was anger in return to the ship, person in sight, an a chance? All he had
them, 'Oh, my God. the whole thing. An elderly woman with to do was check it by
What shall I do?, hour was about very thick ankles talking to her for a
There was no point thirty miles. It would and immense moment beforehand.
in pretending that he knock thirty miles off buttocks who was Secondly - and this
had the slightest the day's run. That leaning over the rail will demonstrate how
chance now - not would do it. 'Low staring at the sea. suspicious the mind
unless the goddamn field' would be sure She was wearing a of a man can become
ship started to go to win it then. Just coat of Persian lamb when it is working
backwards. They'd so long as he made and the collar was through self
have to put her in certain someone saw turned up so Mr preservation and fear
reverse and go full him falling over; but Botibol couldn't see - secondly, it had
speed astern and that would be simple her face. occurred , to him
keep right on going if to arrange. And he'd He stood still, that the woman
he was to have any better wear light examining her might herself be the
chance of winning it clothes, something carefully from a owner of one of the
now. Well, maybe he easy to swim in. distance. Yes, he told high numbers in the
should ask the Sports clothes, that himself, she would pool and as such
captain to do just was it. He would probably do. She would have a sound
that. Offer him ten dress as though he would probably give financial reason for
per cent of the were going up to play the alarm just as not wishing to stop
profits. Offer him some deck tennis - quickly as anyone the ship, Mr Botibol
more if he wanted it. just a shirt and a else. But wait one recalled that people
Mr Botibol started to pair of shorts and minute, take your had killed their
giggle. Then very tennis-shoes. And time, William fellows for far less
suddenly he stopped, leave his watch Botibol, take your than six thousand

5
dollars. It was ‘I'm very lazy,' she fear assailed him. then . . . now. . .
happening every day said. 'I always go to Would he get caught here goes. . .
in the newspapers. bed early. I have my in the propeller? He climbed up on to
So why take a dinner in bed. It's so He had heard about the wide wooden top-
chance on that restful to have that happening to rail, stood there
either? Check on it dinner in bed.' Mr persons falling off poised, balancing for
first, Be sure of your Botibol smiled back the sides of big three terrifying
facts. Find out about at her and began to ships. But then, he seconds, then he
it by a little polite edge away. Got to go wasn't going to fall, leaped - he leaped
conversation. Then, and get my exercise he was going to up and out as far as
provided that the now,' he said. 'Never jump, and that was he could go and at
woman appeared miss my exercise in a very different the same time he
also to be a pleasant, the morning. It was thing. Provided he shouted 'Help!' 'Help!
kindly human being, nice seeing you. Very jumped out far Help!' he shouted as
the thing was a nice seeing you . . .' enough he would be he fell. Then he hit
cinch and he, could He retreated about sure to clear the the water and went
leap overboard with ten paces, and the propeller. under. When the
a light heart. Mr woman let him go Mr Botibol advanced first shout for help
Botibol advanced without looking slowly to a position sounded, the woman
casually towards the around. at the rail about who was leaning on
woman and took up Everything was now twenty yards away the rail started up
a position beside in order. The sea was from the woman. and gave a little
her, leaning on the calm, he was lightly She wasn't looking at jump of surprise,
rail. 'Hullo,' he said dressed for him now. So much She looked around
pleasantly. swimming, there the better. He didn't quickly and saw
She turned and were almost certainly want her watching sailing past her
smiled at him, a no man-eating him as he jumped through the air this
surprisingly lovely, sharks in this part of off. So long as no small man dressed
almost a beautiful the Atlantic, and one was watching he in white shorts and
smile, although the there was this would be able to say tennis shoes, spread
face itself was very pleasant kindly old afterwards that he eagled and shouting
plain. 'Hullo, she woman to give the had slipped and as he went. For a
answered him. alarm. It was a fallen by accident. moment she looked
Check, Mr Botibol question now only of He peered over the as though she
told himself, on the whether the ship side of the ship. It weren't quite sure
first question. She is would be delayed was a long, long what she ought to
neither blind nor long enough to swing drop. Come to think do: throw a lifebelt,
deaf. 'Tell me,' he the balance in his of it now, he might run away and give
said, coming straight favour. Almost easily hurt himself the alarm, or simply
to the point, 'what certainly it would. In badly if he hit the turn and yell. She
did you think of the any event, he could water flat. Wasn't drew back a pace
auction last night?' do a little to help in there someone who from the rail and
'Auction?' she asked, that direction once split his swung half around
frowning. 'Auction? himself. He could stomach open that facing up to the
What auction?' 'You make a few way, doing a belly bridge, and for this
know, that silly old difficulties about flop from the high brief moment she
thing they have in getting hauled up dive? He must jump remained
the lounge after into the lifeboat. straight and land motionless, tense,
dinner, selling Swim around a bit, feet first. Go in like a undecided. Then
numbers on the back away from knife. Yes, sir. The almost at once she
ship's daily run. I them surreptitiously water seemed cold seemed to relax, and
just wondered what as they tried to come and deep and grey she leaned forward
you thought about up close to fish him and it made him far over the rail,
it.' She shook her out. Every minute, shiver to look at it. staring at the water
head, and again she every second gained But it was now or where it was
smiled, a sweet and would help him win. never. Be a man, turbulent in the
pleasant smile that He began to move William Botibol, be a ship's wake. Soon a
had in it perhaps the forward again to the man. All right tiny round black
trace of an apology. rail, but now a new head appeared in the

6
foam, an arm was whole face sharp and
raised above it, once, alert, and she spoke
twice, vigorously less kindly than
waving, and a small before.' And don't
faraway voice was you ever go
heard calling wandering about on
something that was deck alone like this
difficult to again. you know
understand. The quite well you're
woman leaned still meant to wait for
farther over the rail, me.' 'Yes, Maggie,'
trying to keep the the woman with the
little bobbing black fat ankles answered,
speck in sight, but and again she
soon, so very soon, it smiled, a tender,
was such a long way trusting smile, and
away that she she took the hand of
couldn't even be sure the other one and
it was there at all. allowed herself to be
After a while another led away across the
woman came out on deck.
deck. This one was 'Such a nice man,'
bony and angular, she said. 'He waved
and she wore horn- to me.'
rimmed spectacles.
She spotted the first
woman and walked
over to her, treading
the deck in the
deliberate, military
fashion of all
spinsters.
'So there you are,'
she said.
The woman with the
fat ankles turned
and looked at her,
but said nothing.
'I've been searching
for you,' the bony
one continued.
'Searching all over.'
'It's very odd’ , the
woman with the fat
ankles said. 'A man
dived overboard just
now, with his clothes
on.' 'Nonsense!' 'Oh
yes. He said he
wanted to get some
exercise and he
dived in and didn't
even bother to take
his clothes off.' 'You
better come down
now,' the bony
woman said. Her
mouth had suddenly
become firm, her