The cord fell away; his arms parted and floated upward, the hands dimly seen on each side in the growing light. he watched them with a new interest as first one and then the other pounced upon the noose at his neck. they tore it away and thrust it fiercely aside, its undulations resembling those of a water snake.

"an occurrence at owl creek bridge,"
ambrose bierce

at this point, what is a logical prediction?