The Moral Vision
Ducking Below the Waves
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DUCKING BELOW THE WAVES
Two young friends, both good swimmers, once
went swimming off the coast of Madras. The day
was pleasant, the sea calm, and sometimes
skimming along the surface, sometimes plunging
below, they had soon left the shore far behind.
Then, quite without warning, they found
themselves struggling against enormous waves
which bore down on them with tremendous force.
One of the young men struck out strongly against
the waves, battling his way to the shore. But try as
he might, he could not make the distance to the
beach and he was drowned. The waves had proved
stronger than he. His friend also struck out in the
same way, but soon realized his efforts would be
futile. Luckily, he remembered that the force of the
waves was felt more on the surface and much less
underneath, so he immediately plunged, kicking
and struggling, to a depth where he was no longer
buffeted about. Now he began literally to swim for
his life, his lungs bursting and his muscles aching.
By straining every fibre of his being, he managed to
reach the shallows, where he was picked up
unconscious by some sailors. They brought him
