The author had learnt how to swim. But he wanted to make sure that he had conquered his old terror. He decided to overcome his fear of water. So he went to Lake Went worth in New Hampshire, dived off a dock at Triggs Islands and swam two miles across the lake to Stamp Act Island. When he was in the middle of the lake, he got a little frightened. The next day he stripped, dived into the Warm Lake, and swam across to the other shore and back. He shouted with joy and Gilbert Peak returned the echo. Thus Douglas conquered his old terror.