he yawned while the nurse watched , and closed his eyes . someone boomed behind us before i could answer . when he finally lifted his head , he said in a voice full of gravel , `` i want you on a bed . hollow-tree led them to the river , then south along it to cross a shallow spread of waters to the home side . if one tripped the other stumbled too . did this hill come to us ? he stepped forward cautiously and very slowly . 