He closed his eyes for a little while, and then fresh strength poured into his veins.

When he opened his eyes again his interest in life and his situation was of normal keenness.
They were in a little valley and the soldiers, lancers, seemed to number about two hundred.

Their horses were tethered near them, and their lances were stacked in glittering pyramids.

It was early morning.
Several men were cooking breakfast for the whole troop at large fires.
The far edge of the little valley was very rocky and Ned inferred that he had fallen there by a big outcropping of stone, and that the soldiers, looking around for firewood, had found him.

But they had not treated him badly, as the serape spread over his body indicated.
Feeling so much better he sat up.