In ten minutes he found it undisturbed and exactly as he had left it, except that the breeze had strewn the dry reeds with which it was covered with willow leaves, yellow and dead (they fall while all the rest are green), which had been whirled from the branches.

Throwing himself upon the reeds beside the canoe, he dropped asleep as if he had been dead.
He awoke as the sun was sinking and sat up, hungry in the extreme, but much refreshed.

There were still some stores in the canoe, of which he ate ravenously.

But he felt better now; he felt at home beside his boat.
He could hardly believe in the reality of the hideous dream through which he had passed.

But when he tried to stand, his feet, cut and blistered, only too painfully assured him of its reality.