THE SIDE-STROKi:. 207 



definite object in view, and one gets quite excited in trying to reduce the 

 number of strok 



The action of the legs may be seen in the illustration. 



The next point is the movement of the arms. 



In reality the arms are more valuable in swimming than the legs, and 

 for this simple reason, any one who has the use of his limbs at all is 

 obliged t<> use his legs daily, and that to a considerable extent. However 

 sedentary he may be, he must walk up and down stairs twice at least in 

 the day. He must walk from one room to another. He must get into and 

 out of his carriage, and walk a few paces to his office. And in all these 

 little walks his legs have to carry the weight of his body, which, to set it 

 at the least figure, weighs from seventy to ninety pounds. 



THE SIDE-STROKE, 



There is no stroke that enables the swimmer to last so long as this does, 

 and for this reason : instead of employing both arms and legs simul- 

 taneously in the same manner, the side-stroke employs them simultane- 

 ously, but in different manners ; so that when the swimmer is tired < >\' 

 exercising one side he can just turn over and proceed with the other, the 

 change of action resting the limbs almost as much as actual repose would 

 do. 



The side-stroke is thus managed: the swimmer lies on his right >ide. 



-eh ing his right arm out as far as he can reach, keeping the lin 

 of tli'- right hand quite straight and the hand itself held edgewise, so as 

 to cut the water like a shark's fin. The left hand is placed across the 

 -t, with the back against the right breast, and the swimmer is then 

 ready to begin. 



!! oommenoea by making the usual stroke with his l-gs. and the right 

 U-ing un durmast, doing the greatr^t share of the work. IVt'oiv the 

 impetus ^aiii'-d by the stroke is .piiti- expanded, tlie right arm is brou 

 round with a brad sweep, until the palm of the. hand almost touches the 

 right thigh. At the same moment, the left hand make, a similar ^weep, 

 but ifl earned backwards as far as it can go. 



The reader will sec that the hainN a-t directly upon the water like the 

 blades of a pair of oars, and do nt :v of their power by oblique 



ion. 



In ordinary swimming we seldom use the I. -ft arm. but allow it to hang 

 quietly in the water, so that it may 1..- perfectly ready for work when 



