The Romany Rye

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This horse had caused me for some time past no little perplexity; I
had frequently repented of having purchased him, more especially as
the purchase had been made with another person's money, and had
more than once shown him to people who, I imagined, were likely to
purchase him; but, though they were profuse in his praise, as
people generally are in the praise of what they don't intend to
purchase, they never made me an offer, and now that I had
determined to mount on his back and ride away, what was I to do
with him in the sequel? I could not maintain him long. Suddenly I
bethought me of Horncastle, which Francis Ardry had mentioned as a
place where the horse was likely to find a purchaser, and not
having determined upon any particular place to which to repair, I
thought that I could do no better than betake myself to Horncastle
in the first instance, and there endeavour to dispose of my horse.

On making inquiries with respect to the situation of Horncastle,
and the time when the fair would be held, I learned that the town
was situated in Lincolnshire, about a hundred and fifty miles from
the inn at which I was at present sojourning, and that the fair
would be held nominally within about a month, but that it was
always requisite to be on the spot some days before the nominal day
of the fair, as all the best horses were generally sold before that
time, and the people who came to purchase gone away with what they
had bought.

The people of the inn were very sorry on being informed of my
determination to depart. Old Bill told me that he had hoped as how
I had intended to settle down there, and to take his place as
ostler when he was fit for no more work, adding, that though I did
not know much of the business, yet he had no doubt but that I might
improve. My friend the postillion was particularly sorry, and
taking me with him to the tap-room called for two pints of beer, to
one of which he treated me; and whilst we were drinking told me how
particularly sorry he was at the thought of my going, but that he
hoped I should think better of the matter. On my telling him that
I must go, he said that he trusted I should put off my departure
for three weeks, in order that I might be present at his marriage,
the banns of which were just about to be published. He said that
nothing would give him greater pleasure than to see me dance a
minuet with his wife after the marriage dinner; but I told him it
was impossible that I should stay, my affairs imperatively calling
me elsewhere; and that with respect to my dancing a minuet, such a
thing was out of the question, as I had never learned to dance. At
which he said that he was exceedingly sorry, and finding me
determined to go, wished me success in all my undertakings.

The master of the house, to whom, as in duty bound, I communicated
my intention before I spoke of it to the servants, was, I make no
doubt, very sorry, though he did not exactly tell me so. What he
said was, that he had never expected that I should remain long
there, as such a situation never appeared to him quite suitable to
me, though I had been very diligent, and had given him perfect
satisfaction. On his inquiring when I intended to depart, I
informed him next day, whereupon he begged that I would defer my
departure till the next day but one, and do him the favour of
dining with him on the morrow. I informed him that I should be
only too happy.

On the following day at four o'clock I dined with the landlord, in
company with a commercial traveller. The dinner was good, though
plain, consisting of boiled mackerel--rather a rarity in those
parts at that time--with fennel sauce, a prime baron of roast beef
after the mackerel, then a tart and noble Cheshire cheese; we had
prime sherry at dinner, and whilst eating the cheese prime porter,
that of Barclay, the only good porter in the world. After the
cloth was removed we had a bottle of very good port; and whilst
partaking of the port I had an argument with the commercial
traveller on the subject of the corn-laws.

The commercial traveller, having worsted me in the argument on the
subject of the corn-laws, got up in great glee, saying that he must
order his gig, as business must be attended to. Before leaving the
room, however, he shook me patronizingly by the hand, and said
something to the master of the house, but in so low a tone that it
escaped my ear.

No sooner had he departed than the master of the house told me that
his friend the traveller had just said that I was a confounded
sensible young fellow, and not at all opinionated, a sentiment in
which he himself perfectly agreed--then hemming once or twice, he
said that as I was going on a journey he hoped I was tolerably well
provided with money, adding that travelling was rather expensive,
especially on horseback, the manner in which he supposed, as I had
a horse in the stable, I intended to travel. I told him that
though I was not particularly well supplied with money, I had
sufficient for the expenses of my journey, at the end of which I
hoped to procure more. He then hemmed again, and said that since I
had been at the inn I had rendered him a great deal of service in
more ways than one, and that he should not think of permitting me
to depart without making me some remuneration; then putting his
hand into his waistcoat pocket, he handed me a cheque for ten
pounds, which he had prepared beforehand, the value of which he
said I could receive at the next town, or that, if I wished it, any
waiter in the house would cash it for me. I thanked him for his
generosity in the best terms I could select, but, handing him back
the cheque, I told him that I could not accept it, saying, that, so
far from his being my debtor, I believed myself to be indebted to
him, as not only myself but my horse had been living at his house
for several weeks. He replied, that as for my board at a house
like his it amounted to nothing, and as for the little corn and hay
which the horse had consumed it was of no consequence, and that he
must insist upon my taking the cheque. But I again declined,
telling him that doing so would be a violation of a rule which I
had determined to follow, and which nothing but the greatest
necessity would ever compel me to break through--never to incur
obligations. "But," said he, "receiving this money will not be
incurring an obligation, it is your due." "I do not think so,"
said I; "I did not engage to serve you for money, nor will I take
any from you." "Perhaps you will take it as a loan?" said he.
"No," I replied, "I never borrow." "Well," said the landlord,
smiling, "you are different from all others that I am acquainted
with. I never yet knew any one else who scrupled to borrow and
receive obligations; why, there are two baronets in the
neighbourhood who have borrowed money of me, ay, and who have never
repaid what they borrowed; and there are a dozen squires who are
under considerable obligations to me, who I dare say will never
return them. Come, you need not be more scrupulous than your
superiors--I mean in station." "Every vessel must stand on its own
bottom," said I; "they take pleasure in receiving obligations, I
take pleasure in being independent. Perhaps they are wise, and I
am a fool, I know not, but one thing I am certain of, which is,
that were I not independent I should be very unhappy: I should
have no visions then." "Have you any relations?" said the
landlord, looking at me compassionately; "excuse me, but I don't
think you are exactly fit to take care of yourself." "There you
are mistaken," said I, "I can take precious good care of myself;
ay, and can drive a precious hard bargain when I have occasion, but
driving bargains is a widely different thing from receiving gifts.
I am going to take my horse to Horncastle, and when there I shall
endeavour to obtain his full value--ay to the last penny."

"Horncastle!" said the landlord, "I have heard of that place; you
mustn't be dreaming visions when you get there, or they'll steal
the horse from under you. Well," said he, rising, "I shall not
press you further on the subject of the cheque. I intend, however,
to put you under an obligation to me." He then rang the bell, and
having ordered two fresh glasses to be brought, he went out and
presently returned with a small pint bottle, which he uncorked with
his own hand; then sitting down, he said, "The wine that I bring
here, is port of eighteen hundred and eleven, the year of the
comet, the best vintage on record; the wine which we have been
drinking," he added, "is good, but not to be compared with this,
which I never sell, and which I am chary of. When you have drunk
some of it, I think you will own that I have conferred an
obligation upon you;" he then filled the glasses, the wine which he
poured out diffusing an aroma through the room; then motioning me
to drink, he raised his own glass to his lips, saying, "Come,
friend, I drink to your success at Horncastle."

CHAPTER XXX

Triumphal Departure--No Season like Youth--Extreme Old Age--
Beautiful England--The Ratcatcher--A Misadventure.

I departed from the inn much in the same fashion as I had come to
it, mounted on a splendid horse indifferently well caparisoned,
with the small valise attached to my crupper, in which, besides the
few things I had brought with me, was a small book of roads with a
map which had been presented to me by the landlord. I must not
forget to state that I did not ride out of the yard, but that my
horse was brought to me at the front door by old Bill, who insisted
upon doing so, and who refused a five-shilling piece which I
offered him; and it will be as well to let the reader know that the
landlord shook me by the hand as I mounted, and that the people
attached to the inn, male and female--my friend the postillion at
the head--assembled before the house to see me off, and gave me
three cheers as I rode away. Perhaps no person ever departed from
an inn with more eclat or better wishes; nobody looked at me
askance, except two stage-coachmen who were loitering about, one of
whom said to his companion, "I say, Jim! twig his portmanteau! a
regular Newmarket turn-out, by--!"

It was in the cool of the evening of a bright day--all the days of
that summer were bright--that I departed. I felt at first rather
melancholy at finding myself again launched into the wide world,
and leaving the friends whom I had lately made behind me; but by
occasionally trotting the horse, and occasionally singing a song of
Romanvile, I had dispelled the feeling of melancholy by the time I
had proceeded three miles down the main road. It was at the end of
these three miles, just opposite a milestone, that I struck into a
cross road. After riding about seven miles, threading what are
called, in postillion parlance, cross-country roads, I reached
another high road, tending to the east, along which I proceeded for
a mile or two, when coming to a small inn, about nine o'clock, I
halted and put up for the night.

Early on the following morning I proceeded on my journey, but
fearing to gall the horse, I no longer rode him, but led him by the
bridle, until I came to a town at the distance of about ten miles
from the place where I had passed the night. Here I stayed during
the heat of the day, more on the horse's account than my own, and
towards evening resumed my journey, leading the animal by the
bridle as before; and in this manner I proceeded for several days,
travelling on an average from twenty to twenty-five miles a day,
always leading the animal, except perhaps now and then of an
evening, when, if I saw a good piece of road before me, I would
mount and put the horse into a trot, which the creature seemed to
enjoy as much as myself, showing his satisfaction by snorting and
neighing, whilst I gave utterance to my own exhilaration by shouts,
or by "the chi she is kaulo she soves pre lakie dumo," or by
something else of the same kind in Romanvile.

On the whole, I journeyed along very pleasantly, certainly quite as
pleasantly as I do at present, now that I am become a gentleman and
weigh sixteen stone, though some people would say that my present
manner of travelling is much the most preferable, riding as I now
do, instead of leading my horse; receiving the homage of ostlers
instead of their familiar nods; sitting down to dinner in the
parlour of the best inn I can find, instead of passing the
brightest part of the day in the kitchen of a village alehouse;
carrying on my argument after dinner on the subject of the corn-
laws, with the best commercial gentlemen on the road, instead of
being glad, whilst sipping a pint of beer, to get into conversation
with blind trampers, or maimed Abraham sailors, regaling themselves
on half-pints at the said village hostelries. Many people will
doubtless say that things have altered wonderfully with me for the
better, and they would say right, provided I possessed now what I
then carried about with me in my journeys--the spirit of youth.
Youth is the only season for enjoyment, and the first twenty-five
years of one's life are worth all the rest of the longest life of
man, even though those five-and-twenty be spent in penury and
contempt, and the rest in the possession of wealth, honours,
respectability, ay, and many of them in strength and health, such
as will enable one to ride forty miles before dinner, and over
one's pint of port--for the best gentleman in the land should not
drink a bottle--carry on one's argument, with gravity and decorum,
with any commercial gentleman who, responsive to one's challenge,
takes the part of humanity and common sense against "protection"
and the lord of the land.

Ah! there is nothing like youth--not that after-life is valueless.
Even in extreme old age one may get on very well, provided we will
but accept of the bounties of God. I met the other day an old man,
who asked me to drink. "I am not thirsty," said I, "and will not
drink with you." "Yes, you will," said the old man, "for I am this
day one hundred years old; and you will never again have an
opportunity of drinking the health of a man on his hundredth
birthday." So I broke my word, and drank. "Yours is a wonderful
age," said I. "It is a long time to look back to the beginning of
it," said the old man; "yet, upon the whole, I am not sorry to have
lived it all." "How have you passed your time?" said I. "As well
as I could," said the old man; "always enjoying a good thing when
it came honestly within my reach; not forgetting to praise God for
putting it there." "I suppose you were fond of a glass of good ale
when you were young?" "Yes," said the old man, "I was; and so,
thank God, I am still." And he drank off a glass of ale.

On I went in my journey, traversing England from west to east--
ascending and descending hills--crossing rivers by bridge and
ferry--and passing over extensive plains. What a beautiful country
is England! People run abroad to see beautiful countries, and
leave their own behind unknown, unnoticed--their own the most
beautiful! And then, again, what a country for adventures!
especially to those who travel on foot, or on horseback. People
run abroad in quest of adventures, and traverse Spain or Portugal
on mule or on horseback; whereas there are ten times more
adventures to be met with in England than in Spain, Portugal, or
stupid Germany to boot. Witness the number of adventures narrated
in the present book--a book entirely devoted to England. Why,
there is not a chapter in the present book which is not full of
adventures, with the exception of the present one, and this is not
yet terminated.

After traversing two or three counties, I reached the confines of
Lincolnshire. During one particularly hot day I put up at a
public-house, to which, in the evening, came a party of harvesters
to make merry, who, finding me wandering about the house a
stranger, invited me to partake of their ale; so I drank with the
harvesters, who sang me songs about rural life, such as -

"Sitting in the swale; and listening to the swindle of the flail,
as it sounds dub-a-dub on the corn, from the neighbouring barn."

In requital for which I treated them with a song, not of Romanvile,
but the song of "Sivory and the horse Grayman." I remained with
them till it was dark, having, after sunset, entered into deep
discourse with a celebrated ratcatcher, who communicated to me the
secrets of his trade, saying, amongst other things, "When you see
the rats pouring out of their holes, and running up my hands and
arms, it's not after me they comes, but after the oils I carries
about me they comes;" and who subsequently spoke in the most
enthusiastic manner of his trade, saying that it was the best trade
in the world, and most diverting, and that it was likely to last
for ever; for whereas all other kinds of vermin were fast
disappearing from England, rats were every day becoming more
abundant. I had quitted this good company, and having mounted my
horse, was making my way towards a town at about six miles'
distance, at a swinging trot, my thoughts deeply engaged on what I
had gathered from the ratcatcher, when all on a sudden a light
glared upon the horse's face, who purled round in great terror, and
flung me out of the saddle, as from a sling, or with as much
violence as the horse Grayman, in the ballad, flings Sivord the
Snareswayne. I fell upon the ground--felt a kind of crashing about
my neck--and forthwith became senseless.

CHAPTER XXXI

A Novel Situation--The Elderly Individual--The Surgeon--A Kind
Offer--Chimerical Ideas--Strange Dream.

How long I remained senseless I cannot say, for a considerable
time, I believe; at length, opening my eyes, I found myself lying
on a bed in a middle-sized chamber, lighted by a candle, which
stood on a table--an elderly man stood near me, and a yet more
elderly female was holding a phial of very pungent salts to my
olfactory organ. I attempted to move, but felt very stiff--my
right arm appeared nearly paralysed, and there was a strange dull
sensation in my head. "You had better remain still, young man,"
said the elderly individual, "the surgeon will be here presently; I
have sent a message for him to the neighbouring village." "Where
am I?" said I, "and what has happened?" "You are in my house,"
said the old man, "and you have been flung from a horse. I am
sorry to say that I was the cause. As I was driving home, the
lights in my gig frightened the animal." "Where is the horse?"
said I. "Below, in my stable," said the elderly individual. "I
saw you fall, but knowing that on account of my age I could be of
little use to you, I instantly hurried home, the accident did not
occur more than a furlong off, and procuring the assistance of my
lad, and two or three neighbouring cottagers, I returned to the
spot where you were lying senseless. We raised you up, and brought
you here. My lad then went in quest of the horse, who had run away
as we drew nigh. When we saw him first he was standing near you;
he caught him with some difficulty, and brought him home. What are
you about?" said the old man, as I strove to get off the bed. "I
want to see the horse," said I. "I entreat you to be still," said
the old man; "the horse is safe, I assure you." "I am thinking
about his knees," said I. "Instead of thinking about your horse's
knees," said the old man, "be thankful that you have not broke your
own neck." "You do not talk wisely," said I; "when a man's neck is
broke, he is provided for; but when his horse's knees are broke, he
is a lost jockey, that is, if he has nothing but his horse to
depend upon. A pretty figure I should cut at Horncastle, mounted
on a horse blood-raw at the knees." "Oh, you are going to
Horncastle," said the old man, seriously, "then I can sympathize
with you in your anxiety about your horse, being a Lincolnshire
man, and the son of one who bred horses. I will myself go down
into the stable, and examine into the condition of your horse, so
pray remain quiet till I return; it would certainly be a terrible
thing to appear at Horncastle on a broken-kneed horse."

He left the room and returned in about ten minutes, followed by
another person. "Your horse is safe," said he, "and his knees are
unblemished; not a hair ruffled. He is a fine animal, and will do
credit to Horncastle; but here is the surgeon come to examine into
your own condition." The surgeon was a man about thirty-five,
thin, and rather tall; his face was long and pale, and his hair,
which was light, was carefully combed back as much as possible from
his forehead. He was dressed very neatly, and spoke in a very
precise tone. "Allow me to feel your pulse, friend?" said he,
taking me by the right wrist. I uttered a cry, for at the motion
which he caused a thrill of agony darted through my arm. "I hope
your arm is not broke, my friend," said the surgeon, "allow me to
see; first of all, we must divest you of this cumbrous frock."

The frock was removed with some difficulty, and then the upper
vestments of my frame, with more difficulty still. The surgeon
felt my arm, moving it up and down, causing me unspeakable pain.
"There is no fracture," said he, at last, "but a contusion--a
violent contusion. I am told you were going to Horncastle; I am
afraid you will be hardly able to ride your horse thither in time
to dispose of him; however, we shall see--your arm must be
bandaged, friend; after which I shall bleed you, and administer a
composing draught."

To be short, the surgeon did as he proposed, and when he had
administered the composing draught, he said, "Be of good cheer; I
should not be surprised if you are yet in time for Horncastle." He
then departed with the master of the house, and the woman, leaving
me to my repose. I soon began to feel drowsy, and was just
composing myself to slumber, lying on my back, as the surgeon had
advised me, when I heard steps ascending the stairs, and in a
moment more the surgeon entered again, followed by the master of
the house. "I hope I don't disturb you," said the former; "my
reason for returning is to relieve your mind from any anxiety with
respect to your horse. I am by no means sure that you will be
able, owing to your accident, to reach Horncastle in time: to
quiet you, however, I will buy your horse for any reasonable sum.
I have been down to the stable, and approve of his figure. What do
you ask for him?" "This is a strange time of night," said I, "to
come to me about purchasing my horse, and I am hardly in a fitting
situation to be applied to about such a matter. What do you want
him for?" "For my own use," said the surgeon; "I am a professional
man, and am obliged to be continually driving about; I cover at
least one hundred and fifty miles every week." "He will never
answer your purpose," said I, "he is not a driving horse, and was
never between shafts in his life; he is for riding, more especially
for trotting, at which he has few equals." "It matters not to me
whether he is for riding or driving," said the surgeon, "sometimes
I ride, sometimes drive; so, if we can come to terms, I will buy
him, though remember it is chiefly to remove any anxiety from your
mind about him." "This is no time for bargaining," said I, "if you
wish to have the horse for a hundred guineas, you may; if not--"
"A hundred guineas!" said the surgeon, "my good friend, you must
surely be light-headed; allow me to feel your pulse," and he
attempted to feel my left wrist. "I am not light-headed," said I,
"and I require no one to feel my pulse; but I should be light-
headed if I were to sell my horse for less than I have demanded;
but I have a curiosity to know what you would be willing to offer."
"Thirty pounds," said the surgeon, "is all I can afford to give;
and that is a great deal for a country surgeon to offer for a
horse." "Thirty pounds!" said I, "why, he cost me nearly double
that sum. To tell you the truth, I am afraid that you want to take
advantage of my situation." "Not in the least, friend," said the
surgeon, "not in the least; I only wished to set your mind at rest
about your horse; but as you think he is worth more than I can
afford to offer, take him to Horncastle by all means; I will do my
best to cure you in time. Good night, I will see you again on the
morrow." Thereupon he once more departed with the master of the
house. "A sharp one," I heard him say, with a laugh, as the door
closed upon him.

Left to myself, I again essayed to compose myself to rest, but for
some time in vain. I had been terribly shaken by my fall, and had
subsequently, owing to the incision of the surgeon's lancet, been
deprived of much of the vital fluid; it is when the body is in such
a state that the merest trifles affect and agitate the mind; no
wonder, then, that the return of the surgeon and the master of the
house for the purpose of inquiring whether I would sell my horse,
struck me as being highly extraordinary, considering the hour of
the night, and the situation in which they knew me to be. What
could they mean by such conduct--did they wish to cheat me of the
animal? "Well, well," said I, "if they did, what matters, they
found their match; yes, yes," said I, "but I am in their power,
perhaps"--but I instantly dismissed the apprehension which came
into my mind, with a pooh, nonsense! In a little time, however, a
far more foolish and chimerical idea began to disturb me--the idea
of being flung from my horse; was I not disgraced for ever as a
horseman by being flung from my horse? Assuredly, I thought; and
the idea of being disgraced as a horseman, operating on my nervous
system, caused me very acute misery. "After all," said I to
myself, "it was perhaps the contemptible opinion which the surgeon
must have formed of my equestrian powers, which induced him to
offer to take my horse off my hands; he perhaps thought I was
unable to manage a horse, and therefore in pity returned in the
dead of night to offer to purchase the animal which had flung me;"
and then the thought that the surgeon had conceived a contemptible
opinion of my equestrian powers, caused me the acutest misery, and
continued tormenting me until some other idea (I have forgot what
it was, but doubtless equally foolish) took possession of my mind.
At length, brought on by the agitation of my spirits, there came
over me the same feeling of horror that I had experienced of old
when I was a boy, and likewise of late within the dingle; it was,
however, not so violent as it had been on those occasions, and I
struggled manfully against it, until by degrees it passed away, and
then I fell asleep; and in my sleep I had an ugly dream. I dreamt
that I had died of the injuries I had received from my fall, and
that no sooner had my soul departed from my body than it entered
that of a quadruped, even my own horse in the stable--in a word, I
was, to all intents and purposes, my own steed; and as I stood in
the stable chewing hay (and I remember that the hay was exceedingly
tough), the door opened, and the surgeon who had attended me came
in. "My good animal," said he, "as your late master has scarcely
left enough to pay for the expenses of his funeral, and nothing to
remunerate me for my trouble, I shall make bold to take possession
of you. If your paces are good, I shall keep you for my own
riding; if not, I shall take you to Horncastle, your original
destination." He then bridled and saddled me, and, leading me out,
mounted, and then trotted me up and down before the house, at the
door of which the old man, who now appeared to be dressed in
regular jockey fashion, was standing. "I like his paces well,"
said the surgeon; "I think I shall take him for my own use." "And
what am I to have for all the trouble his master caused me?" said
my late entertainer, on whose countenance I now observed, for the
first time, a diabolical squint. "The consciousness of having done
your duty to a fellow-creature in succouring him in a time of
distress, must be your reward," said the surgeon. "Pretty gammon,
truly," said my late entertainer; "what would you say if I were to
talk in that way to you? Come, unless you choose to behave
jonnock, I shall take the bridle and lead the horse back into the
stable." "Well," said the surgeon, "we are old friends, and I
don't wish to dispute with you, so I'll tell you what I will do; I
will ride the animal to Horncastle, and we will share what he
fetches like brothers." "Good," said the old man, "but if you say
that you have sold him for less than a hundred, I shan't consider
you jonnock; remember what the young fellow said--that young
fellow--" I heard no more, for the next moment I found myself on a
broad road leading, as I supposed, in the direction of Horncastle,
the surgeon still in the saddle, and my legs moving at a rapid
trot. "Get on," said the surgeon, jerking my mouth with the bit;
whereupon, full of rage, I instantly set off at a full gallop,
determined, if possible, to dash my rider to the earth. The
surgeon, however, kept his seat, and, so far from attempting to
abate my speed, urged me on to greater efforts with a stout stick,
which methought he held in his hand. In vain did I rear and kick,
attempting to get rid of my foe; but the surgeon remained as
saddle-fast as ever the Maugrabin sorcerer in the Arabian tale what
time he rode the young prince transformed into a steed to his
enchanted palace in the wilderness. At last, as I was still madly
dashing on, panting and blowing, and had almost given up all hope,
I saw at a distance before me a heap of stones by the side of the
road, probably placed there for the purpose of repairing it; a
thought appeared to strike me--I will shy at those stones, and, if
I can't get rid of him so, resign myself to my fate. So I
increased my speed, till arriving within about ten yards of the
heap, I made a desperate start, turning half round with nearly the
velocity of a mill-stone. Oh, the joy I experienced when I felt my
enemy canted over my neck, and saw him lying senseless in the road.
"I have you now in my power," I said, or rather neighed, as, going
up to my prostrate foe, I stood over him. "Suppose I were to rear
now, and let my fore feet fall upon you, what would your life be
worth? that is, supposing you are not killed already; but lie
there, I will do you no further harm, but trot to Horncastle
without a rider, and when there--" and without further reflection
off I trotted in the direction of Horncastle, but had not gone far
before my bridle, falling from my neck, got entangled with my off
fore foot. I felt myself falling, a thrill of agony shot through
me--my knees would be broken, and what should I do at Horncastle
with a pair of broken knees? I struggled, but I could not
disengage my off fore foot, and downward I fell, but before I had
reached the ground I awoke, and found myself half out of bed, my
bandaged arm in considerable pain, and my left hand just touching
the floor.

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