I raised myself slightly in order to cover them, but the movement was fatal; the bed canted and I was again at large.

This time I had serious thoughts of sleeping on the floor, but as it was hard and cold I abandoned the idea.

I laboriously regained my lost position, taking due precautions for my feet.

After a while I grew accustomed to the oscillation, but I had to face another evil.

The clothes kept slipping off, and more than once I followed in trying to recover them.
At last, I found a firm position, where I lay still, clutching the refractory sheets and blankets.