will dash over your nose and mouth, but, before it chokes, regain your
feet and after a good long breath, try it again.

FRANKLIN'S WAY

Another capital dodge is that recommended by Dr. Franklin, in which
the buoyant power of water is still more strikingly exemplified.
Procure an egg or lump of chalk of an easily handled shape, and, when
the water is up to your chest, face the shore and let the egg drop in
front of you. Now take breath, shut your mouth, but not your eyes,
which you can open and shut as easily in the water as out, duck under,
and try to pick up the egg. You will find that while your legs rise
from the bottom you will have to struggle with your arms to get down
far enough to reach the "egg," owing to the great resistance offered
by the water, and two or three attempts may be necessary to accomplish
your object. You can come up at any moment by depressing the feet,
and, as you face the shore, your struggles are working you into
shallower water, so that the experiment is a safe one enough.

You have now gained confidence, which is half the battle, and the next
thing to be done is to try to move on the surface of that element
which you have proved capable of sustaining you when motionless.

It is certainly easier to float when the body is moving through the
water than when it is stationary, on much the same principle which
sustains the oyster shell that skips along the surface of the sea,
until, the impetus given it by the thrower being exhausted, it sinks
to the bottom. In like manner the pace acquired in swimming helps to
sustain the body.