Shaddy had preceded him, and neither of them heard the regular beat of
oars and the faint splashing of water as four rowers, urged on by one in
the stern, forced their way toward the spot from whence the hail had
come, till the boat went crashing among the drooping boughs, was secured
to the huge trunk, and after water and a little sopped bread had been
administered, the three sufferers were carefully lowered down and laid
under the shed-like awning.
Three weary days of delirium ensued before the first of the sufferers
unclosed his eyes, illumined by the light of reason, and had the bright
semicircle of light facing him eclipsed for the moment by a slight
figure which crept in beneath the awning to give him food.