For a moment he stood like one awakened out of a sleep.

He put his hands to his eyes, then shook his head as though to free it of some hateful burden.

An instant later he stooped, lifted up the ladder beside him, and let it down to the floor of the flume.
"There, go--for ever," he said.
Then he turned away with bowed head.

He staggered as he stepped down from the bridge of the flume, where the lever was.

He swayed from side to side.