3989. It must lie in the water so deep that you cannot reach to take it up but by diving for it.
3990. To encourage yourself, in order to do this, reflect that your progress will be from deep to shallow water, and that at any time you may, by bringing your legs under you, and standing on the bottom, raise your head far above the water; then, plunge under with your eyes open, which must be kept open before going under, as you cannot open the eyelids for the weight of water above you; throwing yourself toward the egg, and endeavoring, by the action of your hands and feet against the water, to get forward till within reach of it. In this attempt you will find that the water buoys you up against your inclination; that it is not so easy to sink as you imagine; and that you cannot, but by active force get down to the egg.
3991. Thus you feel the power of water to support you, and learn to confide in that power while your endeavors to overcome it and reach the egg, teach you the manner of acting on the water with your feet and hands, which action is afterward used in swimming to support your head higher above the water, or to go forward through it.
3992. The exercise of swimming is one of the most healthy and agreeable in the world.
3993. Let every boy and girl, if possible, be taught this healthful and life-preserving art.