ABSTRACT
ALEXANDER chafed at his ignorance in this art and practice of swimming. Once, when he needed to cross a vast river with his whole army, he sent ahead a few of his cavalrymen to test a ford. The water was at first deep enough to cover the horses' chests, and soon, when they reached midstream, it washed right up to their necks. Then all the soldiers were numb with fear, and none dared plunge into the river.
