boys’ department. 
259 
Treading Water.— Fig. 61. 
Treading Water .—This is a favorite position in 
the water, and useful as a means of resting in 
swimming long distances. The position is perpen¬ 
dicular; the hands are placed upon the hips, as in 
the engraving, or kept close to the side, to assist in 
balancing the body, being moved like fins, at the 
wrist only. The feet are pushed down alternate¬ 
ly, so as to support the head above water; and the 
body may be raised in this way to a considerable 
extent. While in this position, if the head be 
thrown back, so as to bring the nose and mouth 
uppermost, and the chest somewhat inflated, the 
swimmer may sink till his head is nearly covered, 
and remain for any length of time in this position 
without motion, taking care to breathe very slowly. 
Side Swimming.—Fig. 62. 
Side Swimming .—In swimming on either side, 
the motions of the legs have no alteration, but are 
performed as usual. To swim on the left side, lower 
that side, which is done with the slightest effort, 
and requires no instructions. Then strike forward 
with the left hand, and sideways with the right, 
keeping the back of the latter to the front, with 
the thumb side downward, so as to act as an oar. 
In turning on the other side, strike out wfith the 
right hand, and use the left for an oar. To swim 
on each side alternately, stretch out the lower arm 
the instant that a strike is made by the feet, and 
strike with the other arm on a level with the head, 
at the instant that the feet are urging the swimmer 
forward ; and while the upper hand is carried for¬ 
ward, and the feet are contracted, the lower hand 
must be drawn toward the body. This method is 
full of variety, and capable of great rapidity, but it 
is also very fatiguing. 
Thrusting.—Fig. 63. 
Thrusting .—This is a beautiful variety of this 
exercise, and much used by accomplished swim¬ 
mers. The legs and feet are worked as in ordinary 
swimming, but the hands and arms very differently. 
One arm—say the right—should be lifted wholly 
out of the water, thrust forward to its utmost reach¬ 
ing, and then dropped upon the water with the hand 
hollowed, and then brought back by a powerful 
movement, pulling the water towards the opposite 
armpit. At the same time, the body must be sus¬ 
tained and steadied by the left hand, working in a 
small circle, and as the right arm comes back from 
its far reach to the armpit, the left is carrying in an 
easy sweep from the breast to the hip. Theleftarm 
is thrust forward alternately with the right, and by 
these varied movements great rapidity is combined 
with much ease. 
Swimming on the Back.—Fig. 64. 
Swimming on the Back .—This is the easiest of all 
modes of swimming, because in this way a larger 
portion of the body is supported by the water. It 
is very useful to rest the swimmer from the greater 
exertion of more rapid methods, and especially when 
a long continuance in deep water is unavoidable. 
The swimmer can turn easily to this position, or, if 
learning, he has but to incline slowly backwards, 
keeping his head on a line with his body, and let¬ 
ting his ears sink below the surface. Then, placing 
his hands upon his hips, he can push himself along 
with'his feet and legs with perfect ease, and con¬ 
siderable rapidity. 
The hands may be used to assist in propelling, in 
this mode, by bringing them up edgewise towards 
the arm pits, and then pushing them down, the fin¬ 
gers fronting inward, and the thumb part down. 
This is called “ winging.” 
The hands may be used at discretion, the appli¬ 
cation of force in one direction, of course, giving 
motion in the other; and the best methods are soon 
learned when once the pupil has acquired confidence 
in his buoyant powers. 
Floating.—Fig. 65. 
Floating .—This is so useful a part of the art of 
swimming, that it cannot be too soon obtained. 
In salt water, nothing is easier; and in fresh, to 
most persons, it requires but the slightest exertion. 
The feet should be stretched out, and the arms ex¬ 
tended upward, so as to be at least as high as the 
top of the head, and under water. The head must 
be held back, the chin raised, and the chest ex¬ 
panded. The hands will easily keep the body in 
this horizontal position, and, by breathing care¬ 
fully, a person may float at ease for hours. Could 
a person, unable to swim, but have the presence of 
mind to take this position, he could never drown. 
