midday sun
Then a snort of fright from the horses , a wild plunge forward that almost threw me from the saddle , a sense of falling , a stunning crash that seemed to me to be the bursting asunder of the world 's very foundations and then a merciful oblivion . I awoke to the tortures of the damned , crushed , broken and in agonizing pain , and with the aasvogels tearing at my face . Pinned to the earth as by some great weight , my hands were fortunately still free ; and my revolver still in its holster ; and a few shots sent the lewd , cowardly birds flapping away . The blood was streaming from my face , and again and again I fainted with sheer agony ; moreover the fierce midday sun beat down intolerably full in my eyes , for I lay on my back and could move nothing but my arms . But gradually the sun passed , a cool shadow fell across me , and although I believed I was hurt unto death and indeed longed for death to end my agony some modicum of relief must have come with the shade , and with it strength and the desire to live . Moreover , it was borne upon me that from somewhere near me came the sound of running , gurgling water ; tantalizing and maddening me in my pain and agony . I was lying on a slope with my head lower than my limbs , and all I could see was the sky above me ; do all I could , I could not lift myself , and could not see what pinned my lower limbs to the sand .