Inferencing · Level 3

John had felt reluctant about playing football. His father had insisted - telling him that any exercise would be beneficial. Following the weigh-in he was put in a team with older boys.

He scrambled around looking for the red discs on the trees. This had to be the way down. Up until now the path had been marked. Although he was tired and it was late in the day, he forced himself to go back to the top of the ridge.

It was a warm, moonlit evening as he stood ankle deep in water. For the last ten minutes Dan had been able to make out their silhouettes. Now it was pitch black.

As arranged, he was holding a lantern, to act as a beacon. He didn't want his three sons running aground. Although they had been out several times without him now, this was the first time they had been out at night. They had set out at sunset and agreed to return after four hours. Jack was on the oars when they pushed off into the bay. Although he wasn't the eldest he was the strongest. The breeze had stiffened. Over the sound of surf Dan could hear muffled voices.

He appreciated that without light it was difficult to gauge the surf to safely ride in on a wave. It was a tricky manoeuvre, even in daylight. However, Dan knew that Jack could manage as well as anyone, himself included.

But Dan grew anxious when, after hearing shouts, there was nothing. As he waded out into the water he felt something brush past his legs. He looked down. There, floating in the water, were at least twenty fish. Dead fish.

He guessed what had happened. Apprehensively, he waded further out, holding the light high. Three darkened shapes stumbled in from the foam. Having scrambled wearily ashore the boys endeavoured to recover as much of their catch as they could before heading off home for a hot shower.