midday
I made my passages side by side with my friend the shepherd , and thereby felt much elated . This was a man who had dwelt all his days in the wilds and was familiar with torrents as with his own doorstep . Now and then a swimming dog would bark feebly as he was washed against us , and flatter his fool 's heart that he was aiding the work . And so we wrought on , till by midday I was dead-beat , and could scarce stagger through the surf , while all the men had the same gasping faces . I saw the shepherd look with longing eye up the long green valley , and mutter disconsolately in his beard . `` Is the water rising ? '' I asked .