A girl led me by the hand on either side, but my legs were leaden.

The alcohol I had drunk was striking my heart and brain like a club.

Had I been a weakling of a child, I am confident that it would have killed me.

As it was, I know I was nearer death than any of the scared girls dreamed.

I could hear them bickering among themselves as to whose fault it was; some were weeping--for themselves, for me, and for the disgraceful way their lads had behaved.