[flannelman]

I've had my share of battles with the wily little buggers too! I was out one cold January morn trying to put a dent in the population when I had a slight misadventure, not quite the level of hkruss's, but a misadventure all the same. I was stalking through the tract of hardwood timber that bordered my uncle's field searching for the elusive little tree rats. As I slowly walked along, scanning the treetops, I failed to notice the stump hole in my path. I'm not sure I would have seen it if I was looking because of the layer of leaves floating on the icy water that filled the stump hole. I continued to move along, my eyes searching for any movement from my bushytailed quarry, when I placed my left foot directly in the center of the stump hole. It is rumored here in Arkansas that there are some stump holes that have no bottom and that those holes can swallow a man whole, never to be seen again. Much to my dismay, I had found one of the holes that the ole timers whisper about. As the water embraced my left leg in its icy grip I began to realize the trouble I was in. I'm a pretty big ole boy so it takes quite a hole for me to disappear into but this one seemed to be up to the task. As my leg sank deeper into the cold depths I had to find some way to save myself! I don't know if it was luck or divine intervention, but as my left leg sank my right leg just folded up on dry ground. Finally I settled to a stop with my right leg folded up under me, my rear on the ground, and my left leg straight out in a water filled stump hole. At least I wasn’t sinking anymore! I’m glad I was by myself at this point because I’m sure I looked like a beached whale while trying to extract myself from that cold, wet, bottomless stump hole. Once out I left the squirrels to their own devices as I sloshed my way back home. I vowed to come back and repay them for the trap they set for me though.