Mister Ward
was down in the red, swirling water, kicking and flailing his
arms!
Both ends of the foot log had crashed into the river. The
shorter piece rolled over once, passed by Mister Ward, and went
churning on downstream. The other end, caught against rocks,
bobbed up and down.
I didn't wait to see how Mister Ward would crawl out. I had
to run! But which way? I couldn't see any way to go. I stumbled
into a mass of vines and briars. In trying to get out of the
tangle, I lost one of my shoes, but I couldn't stop to hunt for
it. I kept running!
By staying close to the river bank I could go fast. At the
water's edge the trees and low bushes were not so thick, and
there a little sunlight was still coming through.
I got into a watery place where there were cypress trees.
Trying to wade through all their knees and buckled-up, crooked
roots was dreadful! I saw a snake! But I didn't let him see me! I
turned and ran the other way and left the river. After that, I
had to slow down to a trot. It was getting darker and darker.
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