How We Escaped

By Elmer Ellsworth Shelhamer

Chapter 3

HOW I ESCAPED DROWNING

When a tall lad of twelve, I thought I could swim "Crooked Creek" if others could. One boy swam it and I followed, but when halfway across I gave out, for it was as broad as a river. "What shall I do, turn around, or go ahead? My strength is gone! Here goes -- I will drop down and walk the rest of the way." When I did it was chin deep. Had I stopped two feet sooner I would have drowned, for later I learned that this was the treacherous "fifteen-foot hole." How good God was to let me, a sinner, escape!