The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1910-07-29
 c. D
 Ri RObERTS

RObERTS
 stantly in his grasp And once more in this slight disturbance of his equilibrium, his head went un- der.
 Barnes was disappointed, but he was now aoso- lutely master of himself. In a moment he had re gained the only position in which he could breathe comfortably. Then, because the sun was beating down too fercey on the top of his head. he care fully drew the bushy top of the poplar sapling into such position that it gave him shade As it's roots were still aground it showed tendency to float of and forsake him in his plight.
 very little consideration, accompanied by cautious investigation with his free foot speedily convinced him, being practical woodsman. that the trap in which he found himself caught could be nothing else than couple of interlaced twisted branches, or roots of some tree which had fallen into the pool in some former caving-in of the bank In that dark deep wherein his foot was held fast, his minds eye could see it all well enough-the watersoaked, brown-green. shiny, memorable coil.
 
 which had yielded to admit the unlucky member. then closed upon the ankle like the jaws of an ot- ter trap He could feel that grip-not severe. but uncompromisingly firm, clutching the joint. AS he from the fact that his invisible captor had display ed certain amount of give-and-take. This elastic itv meant either that it was couple of branches slight enough to be flexible that held him. that the submerged tree itself small one, not too steadfastIy anchored down. He would free him self easily enough, he thought, as he should set himself about it coolly and systematt cally.
 the surface and peered downward through the berbrown but transparent gloom Little gleams of brighter light came twisting and quivering in from the swirls of the outer current Barnes could not discern the bottom of the pool which evident ly very deep; but he could see quite clearly the portion of the sunken tree in whose interwoven fell just the spot where his foot vanished to the ankle between two stout curves of what looked like slimy brown cables or sections of tense snake body.
 It was beyond question. nasty-looking trap; and Barnes could not blink the fact that he was in a tight place. He lifted his face above the sur face. steadied himself carefully and breathed deep 1y and quietly for a couple of minutes, gathering strength for swift and vigorous effort Then,
 filling his lungs very moderately the better to en- dure strain, he stopped suddenly downward with all his force at those oozy curves striving to drag them apart They gave little, but not enough to release the imprisoned foot Another moment and he had to lift his head again for breath.
 After some minutes of rest, he repeated the choking struggle but, before, in vain. He could move the jaws of the trap just enough to encour- age him little, but not enough to gain his re lease. Again and again he tried it-again and again to fail just he imagined himself on the verge of success; till at last he was forced for the moment to acknowledge defeat finding himself so exhaust ed that he could hardly keep his mouth above water. Drawing down stifish upright branch of the sapng. he gripped it between his teeth and so held himself upright while he rested his arms. This was relief to nerves as well as muscles. be- cause it made his balance, on which he depended for the chance to breathe, much the less pre- carious
 As he hung there pondering, held but bare half