192 THE WORLD'S WONDERS. 



natural floating bridge was formed two feet thick, over which it 

 was possible to pass by stepping quickly. Baker started across 

 with his wife following, but when near mid-stream, he looked 

 back and was horrified to see her standing still, sinking gradually 

 through the weeds, while her face was distorted and purple. 

 Rushing to her side, he found her insensible, and quickly calling 

 two of the men to his assistance, they dragged her to the shore, 

 for if they had attempted to carry her, all would have sunk 

 through the grass bridge into the water beneath. 



On reaching the shore, Mrs. Baker was laid under a tree, and 

 her face and hands were bathed, but she continued insensible, as 

 though dead, with teeth and hands firmly clenched, and eyes open 

 but fixed. A litter was hastily constructed, upon which she was 

 carried mournfully forward like a corpse. Every few minutes a 

 halt was necessary, as a painful rattling in the throat betokened 

 suffocation, which an elevation of her head could alone relieve. 

 At night the poor woman was laid in a hut and carefully attended 

 by her husband, but she remained insensible. For three days 

 and nights she lay in a comatose state, every fleeting breath anx- 

 iously watched by her distracted companion. The third morning 

 came, and Baker thus describes what came with it : 



"My lamp had just burnt out, and, cramped with the night's 

 watching, I rose from my low seat, and seeing that she lay in the 

 same unaltered state, I went to the door of the hut to breathe 

 one gasp of the fresh morning air. I was watching the first red 

 streak that heralded the rising sun, when I was startled by the 

 words, Thank God,' faintly uttered behind me. Suddenly she 

 awoke from her torpor, and with a heart overflowing I went to 

 her bedside. Her eyes were full of madness ! She spoke, but 

 the brain was gone !" 



Brain fever now set in, and lasted seven days, during all of 

 which time they were compelled to travel, as they could not 

 remain in one place. At last, on the seventh morning, broken 

 down with watching and fatigue, Baker fell asleep. He says : 

 " The sun had risen when I awoke. I had slept, and horrified as 

 the idea flashed upon me that she must be dead, and that I had 



