"Perhaps I dropped down.

I hope they haven't buried me!" With a straining agony of will he got in motion an arm, which was lying like that of another man outside the coverlid, and felt feebly about him.

His hand struck against something solid, and what seemed a handful of earth fell with a hollow rumble.

Alas, this seemed ominous! Where could he be but in his coffin?
The thought was not a pleasant one, certainly, but he was too weak, and had been wandering too long in the miserable limbo of vain fancies, to be much dismayed.

He said to himself he would not have to suffer long--he must soon go to sleep, and so die.
Fatigued with that one movement, he lay for some time motionless.
His eyes were open, though he did not know it, and by and by he became aware of light.