Whitefoothadbeeninmanytightplaces. Yes,indeed,Whitefoothadbeeninmanytightplaces.Hehadhadnarrowescapesofallkinds. Butneverhadhefeltsoutterlyhopelessasnow. Themomenthelandedinthatsap,Whitefootbegantoswimfrantically. Heisn’taparticularlygoodswimmer,buthecouldswimwellenoughtokeepafloatforawhile. Hisfirstthoughtwastoscrambleupthesideofthetinpail,butwhenhereacheditandtriedtofastenhissharplittleclawsintoitinordertoclimb,hediscoveredthathecouldn’t. Sharpastheywere,hislittleclawsjustslipped,andhisstrugglestogetuponlyresultedintiringhimoutandinplunginghimwhollybeneaththesap.Hecameupchokingandgasping. Thenroundandroundinsidethatpailhepaddled,stoppingeverytwoorthreesecondstotrytoclimbupthathateful,smooth,shinywall. Themorehetriedtoclimbout,themorefrightenedhebecame. Hewasinaperfectpanicoffear.Hequitelosthishead,didWhitefoot.Theharderhestruggled,themoretiredhebecame,andthegreaterwashisdangerofdrowning. Whitefootsqueakedpitifully.Hedidn’twanttodrown.Ofcoursenot.Hewantedtolive. Butunlesshecouldgetoutofthatpailverysoon,hewoulddrown.Heknewit. Heknewthathecouldn’tholdonmuchlonger. Heknewthatjustassoonashestoppedpaddling,hewouldsink. Alreadyhewassotiredfromhisfranticeffortstoescapethatitseemedtohimthathecouldn’tholdoutanylonger. Butsomehowhekepthislegsmoving,andsokeptafloat. Justwhyhekeptstruggling,Whitefootcouldn’thavetold.Itwasn’tbecausehehadanyhope.Hedidn’thavetheleastbitofhope. Heknewnowthathecouldn’tclimbthesidesofthatpail,andtherewasnootherwayofgettingout.Stillhekeptonpaddling. Itwastheonlywaytokeepfromdrowning,andthoughhefeltsurethathehadgottodrownatlast,hejustwouldn’tuntilheactuallyhadto. AndallthetimeWhitefootsqueakedhopelessly,despairingly,pitifully. Hediditwithoutknowingthathedidit,justashekeptpaddlingroundandround. 
