“What would you do ?” used to figure on the cover of a boys’ comic called “Boys’ World”. This was a publication aimed, obviously, at boys, and first appeared on January 26th 1963. There were 89 issues before the comic was merged with Eagle in 1964. The last issue of “Boys’ World” came out on October 3rd 1964.
I used to buy “Boys’ World”, and this was mainly for the front cover which always featured a kind of puzzle. It was called “What would you do ?” and was based on somebody being in what Ned Flanders would call “A dilly of a pickle”. Here’s the situation:
The blue box sets the scene, and the task is for you to solve the situation. Perhaps you might like to write your idea in the “Comments” section.
Here’s the blue box enlarged:
So……it’s a photographic safari and a deep, crocodile infested river must be crossed. Midway across, he realises that he is on an inadequate and primitive rope bridge. Indeed, suddenly, the rotting ropes begin to break apart, one strand after another. Death seems just seconds away. Is there anything he can do to save himself?
John Knifton 
Does it have anything to do with the straps on his camera and canteen (or is that a binocular case)? Other than that, I’m holding on for dear life and yelling the whole time!!!! 😲😬😵
I think it’s a canteen, but I’m afraid that it’s not the solution. Let’s hope too that all that shouting doesn’t attract even more crocodiles!
I am going to suggest that he lunges forward to grab the ropes beyond where they are fraying so that when they break he swings away from the crocodile. I am guessing that he is not too far away from the other side of the ravine so he won’t fall in the river.
That’s not the answer, Chris, but it’s a valid suggestion in my book. It might just work, and I think you’re right that he won’t fall into the river. This puzzle is the most difficult so far, and I must confess, I couldn’t come up with the answer, and =had to look at next week’s solution.
Tying himself onto the rope with the strap on his satchel, he prepares for a fall yet the strap holds him. Slowly and carefully working the strap from off of him, he arduously climbs up the rope to get to land, where he hoists himself up and onto that land.
Extremely ingenious, but not the answer, I’m afraid. I suppose the person who set the puzzle just presumed that even if the camera strap held him, the rope had he tied it to was bound to break.
No idea because I’d never have got on that bridge in the first place
You’re absolutely right, of course. I’ve never been on a rope bridge as far as I remember, but I would insist on proper rope rather than that brown hairy string you get on parcels.
Well I’d say he has to attach one of the ropes to his body (twisting it around his arm) and waits for the inevitable break. He then swings, hopefully not killing himself hitting the cliff face, and climbs up. It always works on the TV!
…. but I’m afraid it doesn’t work here !! To be fair, though, this is a very difficult puzzle, easily the most difficult we’ve had so far.
Oh dear. I best think again then!
I visualize him holding onto the rope and swinging to safety. But, then again, that’s too obvious to be the right solution.
It isn’t the correct answer, but it is the closest we’ve had so far, so very well done.
One important factor is that the strands are just beginning to break apart rather than they have completely given way, and that detail takes you a little closer to the correct solution.
This would be a good time for him to use his jetpack and fly off to safety. Failing that, use the straps from his camera to make a quick repair to the bridge and get off it quick.
Not the correct answer, I’m afraid but a very imaginative solution that might well work.
Hold on tight and after it collapses climb up the ropes to the top.
That isn’t the correct answer from the following week’s comic, but it might just work. The official answer is keen to avoid the sudden shock to the rope when it suddenly has to take your weight as you fall. I think that they presume the rope would automatically break.
It has to do with the camera straps. But other than that I don’t think it’s all that realistic.
Sorry, the camera straps don’t come into the official solution. And you are right, it isn’t that realistic, but I think that rope bridges must still be common in Africa and are probably in a parlous state, many of them, at least. And the crocodiles are realistic!
Thank you for sharing!!.. just guessing here, but seeing as how the ropes in front of him are the problem, I would turn around and attempt to return to where I started and at the same time perhaps tossing something into the water to “spook” the alligators… 🙂
Until we meet again..
May your troubles be less
Your blessings be more
And nothing but happiness
Come through your door
(Irish Saying)
Half of that is right. In the solution, the direction to go is definitely back the way you came. How you do it is key to the solution. As for the crocodiles, I don’t hold out much hope for spooking them. In Africa, crocodiles have very little, if any, fear of man, and see him rather as a tasty snack!
Hopefully the noise of the object hitting the water will get the gators to thinking perhaps it may be a tasty snack and move from where they are… 🙂
Hopefully!!
At that time you and your friends must have had a great time thinking about the solution 😊 Maybe he had enough time to run back?
I’m afraid the running back is a little optimistic as a solution. I think the bridge might well collapse immediately under the added vibrations of a person running.
😁