Counting his journey to Tatpan's camp, he had been traveling almost steadily for seventeen hours.
Not until he stretched himself out on his back in a grassy hollow where a little stream a foot wide rippled close to his ears did he realize how tired he had become.

At first he tried not to sleep.

Rest was all he wanted; he dared not close his eyes.

But exhaustion overcame him at last, and he slept.

When he awoke, bird-song and the sun were taunting him.