Nor did he notice the open trap.

Before I could grasp the situation, or act, he had walked right into the trap.

One foot was descending into the opening, while the other foot was just on the verge of beginning the uplift.

But when the descending foot missed the solid flooring and felt vacancy beneath, it was the old Wolf Larsen and the tiger muscles that made the falling body spring across the opening, even as it fell, so that he struck on his chest and stomach, with arms outstretched, on the floor of the opposite side.

The next instant he had drawn up his legs and rolled clear.