Sun Mote Copse stand against the tide

When Elfie would look back at this situation years later, he would see that at least once his fahter's watchfulness had been in the right place and right time. Had the boy been all on his own, he would probably either remain stuck here or would attempt to swim to the other shore, which would have been just as good option, if not for the steep bank there as well. 

He did not say it aloud, but he was secretly glad that Eljay was here. And that instead of being the snivelling-coward self (that Elfie thought his father generally was), he had taken the risk, had got over the river and was here now. They were in the middle of an adventure. Boy, was Weejay going to be SO jealous, when tells her this later in the day. "Where did you get over?" he asked, because they could take that road, if all else failed. "Or we can swim!"