sleeping and waking, in which, while my consciousness never entirely
left me, my fancy, breaking away from the control of reason, rambled off
and indulged in the most extraordinary vagaries. I heard the rush of
the stream, the murmur of the wind through the branches of the trees
with which the camp was surrounded, the hum of many voices outside the
tent, the frequent snatch of song, or peal of laughter, the occasional
angry altercation, and--once or twice--voices speaking in low tones
within the tent; but all seemed to strike upon my ear as though the
sounds reached me from an incredible distance, and then the absurd idea
took possession of me that I was increasing in bulk to such an
extraordinary extent, that my recumbent body covered miles of ground.

Then my sight seemed to undergo an equally extraordinary alteration, for
it appeared that I was able to see away over the tree-tops down into the
town of Ajaccio; the lines of the streets, the architecture of the
houses, and the very features of the inhabitants being distinguishable.
Then I thought I was rising gradually in the air, my powers of vision
steadily increasing at the same time. First I saw the wide stretch of
blue foam-flecked ocean glittering in the sun; then the coast of France
rose above the horizon, Toulon harbour, as might be expected, coming
prominently forward in the picture; then the vine-clad hills and fertile
plains, the populous cities and picturesque villages of the interior
spread themselves out like a panorama; and finally the northern sea-
board, the English Channel dotted here and there with white gleaming
sails, the chalk cliffs of old England, the Hampshire downs, and my dear
old home with all the loved familiar faces appeared, and I heard them
speaking lovingly of poor absent me.

Then with a suddenness that was absolutely painful all these pleasant
fancies passed away, and I imagined myself to be a disembodied spirit
floating helplessly in the midst of immeasurable space, enveloped in
murky clouds and thick darkness, and whirled hither and thither at the
mercy of a furious wind.

Of course I had no idea of the actual passage of time during this period
of delirium, but it seemed that I had thus been the sport of the
elements for countless ages, when the sensation gradually passed away,
and I sank into a condition of complete unconsciousness.

When I awoke daylight was just making itself visible through the canvas
sides of the tent, and