Part 16 (1/2)
”You can, but it is not much use: you only get along so slowly. When you can swim properly, you can copy Pan in a minute.”
The governor could not go with them again for two days on account of business; but full of their swimming, they looked in the old bookcase, and found a book in which there were instructions, and among other things they read that the frog was the best model. Out they ran to look for a frog; but as it was sunny there were none visible, till Mark remembered there was generally one where the ivy of the garden wall had spread over the ground in the corner.
In that cool place they found one, and Bevis picked it up. The frog was cold to the touch even in the summer day, so they put it on a cabbage-leaf and carried it to the stone trough in the yard. No sooner did it feel the water than the frog struck out and crossed the trough, first in one direction, and then in another, afterwards swimming all round close to the sides, but unable to land, as the stone was to it like a wall.
”He kicks,” said Mark, leaning over the trough; ”he only kicks; he doesn't use his arms.”
The frog laid out well with his legs, but kept his forelegs, or arms, still, or nearly so.
”Now, what's the good of a frog?” said Bevis; ”men don't swim like that.”
”It's very stupid,” said Mark; ”he's no model at all.”
”Not a bit.”
The frog continued to go round the trough much more slowly.
”No use watching him.”
So they went away, but before they had gone ten yards Bevis ran back.
”He can't get out,” he said; and placing the cabbage-leaf under the frog, he lifted the creature out of the trough and put him on the ground. No sooner was the frog on the ground than he went under the trough in the moist shade there, for the cattle as they drank splashed a good deal over. When they told the governor, he said that what they had noticed was correct, but the frog was a good model in two things nevertheless; first in the way he kicked, and secondly in the way he leaned his chest on the water. But a man had to use his arms so as to balance his body and keep his chin and mouth from going under, besides the a.s.sistance they give as oars to go forward.
Next morning they went to the bathing-place again. Bevis had now to hold the rail as previously, but when he had got it at arm's length he was told to kick like the frog.
”Draw your knees up close together and kick, and send your feet wide apart,” said the governor. Bevis did so, and the thrust of his legs sent him right up against the rail. He did this several times, and was then ordered to go on hands and knees in the shallow water, just as he had done before, and let his legs float up. When they floated he had to kick, to draw his knees up close together, and then strike his feet back wide apart. The thrust this time lifted his hands off the bottom on which they had been resting, lifted them right up, and sent him quite a foot nearer the sh.o.r.e. His chest was forced against the water like an inclined plane, and he was thus raised an inch or so. When the impulse ceased he sank as much, and his hands touched the bottom once more.
This pleased him greatly--it was quite half-swimming; but he found it necessary to be careful while practising it that there were no large stones on the bottom, and that he did not get in too shallow water, else he grazed his knees. In the water you scarcely feel these kind of hurts, and many a bather has been surprised upon getting out to find his knees or legs bruised, or even the skin off, from contact with stones or gravel, of which he was unaware at the time.
Mark had no difficulty in doing the same, it was even easier for him, as he had only to imitate, which is not so hard as following instructions.
The second, indeed, often learns quicker than the first. They kicked themselves along in fine style.
”Keep your feet down,” said the governor; ”don't let them come above the surface, and don't splash. Mark, you are not drawing your knees up, you are only lifting your heels; it makes all the difference.”
He then made them hold on to the rail in the deepest water they could fathom--standing himself between them and the deeper water--and after letting their legs float, ordered them to kick there, but to keep their arms straight and stiff, not to attempt to progress, only to practise the kick. The object was that they might kick deep and strong, and not get into a habit of shallow kicking, as they might while walking on their hands on the sand. All that lesson they had to do nothing but kick.
In a day or two they were all in the water again, and after a preliminary splas.h.i.+ng, just to lot off their high spirits--otherwise they would not pay attention--serious business began.
”Now,” said the governor, ”you must begin to use your arms. You are half-independent of touching the bottom already--you can feel that you can float without your feet touching anything; now you must try to float altogether. You know the way I use mine.”
They had seen him many times, and had imitated the motion on sh.o.r.e, first putting the flat hands together, thumb to thumb; the thumbs in their natural position, and not held under the palm; the tips of the thumbs crossing (as sculls cross in sculling); the fingers together, but not squeezed tight, a little interstice between them matters nothing, while if always squeezed tight it causes a strain on the wrist. The flat hands thus put together held four to six inches in front of the breast, and then shot out--not with a jerk, quick, but no savage jerk, which wastes power--and the palms at the extremity of the thrust turned partly aside, and more as they oar the water till nearly vertical.
Do not attempt a complete sweep--a complete half-circle--oar them round as far as they will go easily without an effort to the shoulders, and then bring them back. The object of not attempting a full sweep is that the hands may come back easily, and without disturbing the water in front of the chest and checking progress, as they are apt to do. They should slip back, and then the thumbs being held naturally, just as you would lay your flat hand on the table, they do not meet with resistance as they do if held under the palm. If the fingers are kept squeezed tight together when the hands are brought back to the chest, should they vary a hair's breadth from a level position they stop progress exactly like an oar held still in the water, and it is very difficult to keep them absolutely level. But if the fingers are the least degree apart, natural, if the hand inclines a trifle, the fingers involuntarily open and the water slips through, besides which, as there is no strain, the hands return level with so much greater ease. The thrust forward is so easy--it is learnt in a moment--you can imitate it the first time you see it--that the bringing back is often thought of no account. In fact, the bringing back is _the_ point, and if it be not studied you will never swim well. This he had told them from time to time on sh.o.r.e, and they had watched him as he swam slowly by them, on purpose that they might observe the manner. But to use the arms properly on sh.o.r.e, when they pa.s.s through air and meet with no resistance, is very different to using them properly in the water.
Bevis had to stand facing the sh.o.r.e in water as deep as his chest; then to stoop a little--one foot in front of the other for ease--till his chin nearly rested on the surface, and then to strike out with his arms.
He was not to attempt anything with his feet, simply to stand and try the stroke. He put his flat hands together, pushed them out, and oared them round as he had often done on land. As he oared them round they pushed him forward, so that he had to take a step on the bottom; they made him walk a step forward. This he had to repeat twenty times, the governor standing by, and having much trouble to make him return his hauds to his chest without obstructing his forward progress.
Bevis became very impatient now to swim arms and legs together; he was sure he could do it, for his arms, as they swept back, partly lifted him up and pushed him on.
”Very well,” said the governor. ”Go and try. Here, Mark.”