the right side, as in Fig. 30.

Having learned the arm and leg movements with the breathing, it is now
essential that the position of the body be correct (see Fig. 26). Do not
make the mistake of burying your head too deep or the legs, either;
hollow the back so as to present a slight slant to the water. If the
legs and back come too high raise the head a trifle.

PART III

FLOATING, DIVING AND SCIENTIFIC SWIMMING

TREADING WATER

Treading water is a very useful and necessary adjunct to swimming,
especially so to the person who either falls overboard or goes to the
rescue of a drowning person, or when trying to remove one's clothes. In
the game of water polo, also, this method of swimming is practised a
great deal.

To tread water is like running up-stairs rapidly; the legs have to be
brought up and down all the time; the hands should be kept on the
surface of the water, the palms continually pressing against the water,
and thereby helping the legs to hold the body up.

It is possible to stand perfectly still in deep water, it being merely a
question of balance.

Stand perfectly still, with the arms in line with the shoulders and the
head kept well back in the water. The head will sink below the surface
once or twice until the proper balance is reached. When this is attained
try breathing through the mouth. The swimmer can stand still for an
indefinite period.

[Illustration: TREADING WATER]

FLOATING

Floating on the surface of the water is enjoyed immensely by all good
swimmers. This feat may seem quite simple, but it is not very easily
accomplished. There are many persons who are fairly good swimmers, and
yet are unable to float properly. The best of swimmers have often
attained this feat only after long and persistent practise. It is
possible to learn to float without being able to swim, but in that case
only by persons not subject to the least nervousness. As a means of
securing rest during exercises in the water, floating gives an ideal
position. Without the ability to float one lacks the absolute
self-confidence in the water so necessary in order to perform numerous
aquatic feats.

As a rule, women learn to float more quickly than men, because their
bones are lighter. Oftentimes women are able to float the first time
they enter the water. Strange as it may seem, while this accomplishment
is a very difficult matter for some men to master, with women it is
almost natural. Nothing is more