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while; but this you may remedy, by turning on your back when you begin to get near the bottom, as you will cease to descend when you begin to turn yourself. The coldness of the water is a little troublesome at first, but in a short time it wears off.
HOW TO BEGIN TO SWIM.
When you have gone so far in that the water reaches your breast, you are to put yourself in a right posture for swimming, by lying down gently on your belly, keeping your head and neck upright, your breast advancing forward, and your back bending ; then withdraw your legs from the bottom stretching them out in imitation of a frog; stretch out your arms also, and spread them open then draw them in again towards your breast: strike forward as may strokes as you can, first with your hands, and then with your feet, and you will find this way easy and pleasant. Be not at all afraid lying along the water when you know the bottom. It will sometimes happen that you drink down some water, but that ought not to discourage you, nor need you imagine that you are not as capable of learning to swim as well as others, for the same thing happens almost to all beginners ; for it is common at first learning, in lying along the water, to sink down, and be ready to be stifled in
