With the last shred of his strength he precipitated himself into it, landing in a sick heap on Elijah's legs.

He was beyond attempting to rise, and as he lay he heard and felt the boat take the water.

By watching the tree-tops he knew it was whirling.

A smashing shock and flying fragments of ice told him that it had struck the bank.

A dozen times it whirled and struck, and then it floated easily and free.
Daylight came to, and decided he had been asleep.