148 AFRICAN ADVENTURE STORIES 



only twenty feet separated me from the branch, 

 then fifteen, ten, five, and with all my strength 

 I threw myself out of the water and frantically 

 seized the limb. 



It yielded until it could bear no more and, 

 as the current whipped my body about and my 

 pockets again filled with water, there was a 

 sudden jerk the strain was too great on my 

 numbed fingers and the limb slipped from my 

 grasp. 



A feeling of despair swept over me as I looked 

 down at the spray, dashing over that pile of 

 logs and rubbish, and the swerving whirlpool 

 ready to suck me under. 



Then suddenly I saw the end of a limb pro- 

 truding above the water about five feet from the 

 jam. The current swayed it from side to side 

 and I knew that it must be insecure, but it was 

 my last chance. 



On nearing it I stemmed the current and 

 began to swim with all my fast-waning strength, 

 hoping thus partly to check my progress and 

 ease the shock to my arms and to the limb 

 when I should grab it. 



Just as I was about to shoot past I seized it 

 in both hands and clung for dear life. The 



