Five o'clock
But there was only an odd hour or two during the day for swimming and he soon found that , although he got a good deal of fun out of instructing the others , it was taking too much of his time . It was Roy 's suggestion -- Roy being one of the most enthusiastic pupils -- that those who wanted instruction should be on hand at a given hour each day . The suggestion was adopted , and Edwards 's Swimming Class soon became a recognised institution . Five o'clock was the hour set , at which time the tank was not much used , and Steve , having returned from football practice , donned swimming trunks and repaired to the pool where he usually found from four to a dozen boys awaiting him , since , by attending to them all at once , he could look after a dozen as easily as a few . Most of the pupils were boys of from thirteen to seventeen , although there were two older fellows in the class , Jay Fowler and Hatherton Williams . Both were Sixth Formers and both were football men . Mr. Conklin , the physical director , gave enthusiastic endorsement and encouragement .