The relief which it afforded him was almost instantaneous, and he seemed to feel life again coursing in his veins.
After a while he was sufficiently restored to be enabled to get from his havresack some bread and meat which he had placed there after finishing his breakfast on the previous morning.

He ate a few mouthfuls, took another long draught of wine, and then felt that he could hope to hold on until morning.

He was unable to rise even into a sitting position, nor would it have availed him had he been able to walk, for he knew not where the armies were lying, nor could he have proceeded a yard in any direction without falling over the bodies which so thickly strewed the ground around him.
Though in fact it wanted but two hours of daylight when he recovered consciousness, the time appeared interminable; but at last, to his delight, a faint gleam of light spread across the sky.

Stronger and stronger did it become until the day was fairly broken.

It was another hour before he heard voices approaching.