Whenever I raised my head I always failed to see him, but he was probably lying sheltered somewhere beneath the sails.
Curtis was the only man who remained on his feet, but with indomitable pluck he continued to stand on the front of the raft, waiting, watching, hoping.

To look at him, with his unflagging energy, almost tempted me to imagine that he did well to hope, but I dared nor entertain one sanguine thought; and there I lay, waiting, nay, longing for death.
How many hours passed away thus I cannot tell, but after a time a loud peal of laughter burst upon my ear Some one else, then, was going mad, I thought; but the idea did not rouse me in the least.

The laughter was repeated with greater vehemence, but I never raised my head.

Presently I caught a few incoherent words.
"Fields, fields, gardens and trees! Look, there's an inn under the trees! Quick, quick! brandy, gin, water! a guinea a drop! I'll pay for it! I've lots of money! lots! lots!" Poor deluded wretch! I thought again; the wealth of a nation could not buy a drop of water here.

There was silence for a minute, when all of a sudden I heard the shout of "Land! land!" The words acted upon me like an electric shock, and, with a frantic effort, I started to my feet.