And then from many quarters seemed to come a wicked laughter, I leaned against the trunk, with a deadly nausea clutching at my heart.

Poor fool, I had rejoiced for a second, only to be dashed into utter despair! I do not think I had ever had much hope, but now I was convinced that all was over.

The water had made my burns worse, and disappointment had sapped the little remnants of my strength.

My one desire was to get out of this ghoulish thicket and die by the stream-side.

The cool sound of it would be a fitting dirge for a foolish fellow who had wandered far from his home.
I could hear the plunge of it, and struggled towards it.