The blackness began to lighten. He saw the river Rolling and rolling. He was clutched to a log Like a treetoad set afloat on a chip of wood, And the log and he were rushing downstream together, But the current pulled them both toward the freedom side.

He hunched up a little higher. An eddy took The log and him and spun them both like a top While he prayed and sickened. Then they were out of the eddy And drifting along more slowly, straight for the shore.

He hauled himself up the bank with enormous care, Vomited and lay down. When he could arise He looked at his hands. They were still hooked into a curve. It took quite a time to straighten them back again.