"Push your legs down and as far apart as they will go. Bring the arms in a steady sweep down to the sides."
"Exactly. A person who thinks he's drowning loses his head and struggles with his rescuer and perhaps they both drown. The best way is to grasp his arms from behind above the elbows and put your knees in the small of his back. That will throw him into a position where he will float. Then hold his arm with your left hand and swim on your back using your right arm and your legs."
"But I haven't learned to swim on my back."
"Bring the legs together and forward you'll shoot."
End of arm stroke.
"Learn how as soon as you can get on pretty well the other way. Throw yourself on your back and push your legs down and as far apart as they will go; then bring them together and forward you'll shoot. Draw them up to the body again, spread out, clap your heels—there you are. It's just like swimming on your face—"
"Except that you're upside down."
"You can help on by putting your arms above your head with the backs of the hands together and then bringing them in a steady sweep down to the sides. You'd better learn this; it's the thing to do when you have the cramp yourself as well as when the other fellow has it."
"Now let us practice on you," suggested Ethel Blue.