Final answer:
Ralph considered freeing his hands and escaping by water, discovering an underground route, and simply longing for a moment of freedom as his three options for escape.
Step-by-step explanation:
Ralph, the character you are asking about, appears to have been in a dire situation where he saw three primary options for escape.
His first option was attempting to free his hands, throw off the noose, and spring into the stream, hoping to evade gunfire by diving and swimming.
His second option involved finding an underground way of escape. The third option he pondered on was more of a desperate hope, a longing to escape the wet, the pain, the ashes, and to breathe freely, even if just for a moment.
In the broader context of escape attempts, characters in different situations consider various methods such as engaging the enemy, running away, leaving someone in a place of freedom, or taking a risky journey to avoid being trailed.