Nought availed; I was dying helplessly, with my eyes wide open—staring straight up at the roof. At length, I stuck my forefinger in my mouth, and took to sucking it. Something stirred in my brain, a thought that bored its way in there—a stark-mad notion. Supposing I were to take a bite? And without a moment’s reflection, I shut my eyes, and clenched my teeth on it. I sprang up. At last I was thoroughly awake.