Possible Clues:

• Walked unsteadily
• Perhaps the adder began to fall
• Was on verge of ruin -- reckoned to capture Republican base
• That was the beginning of the fall
• Walked very unsteadily or shakily
• How the boy got unsteadily around the beast in the water
• Ted was about to fall for about the beast in the water
• Barely got along
• Edward intercepted beast that had taken unsteady steps
• Carrying mammal, Edward moved unsteadily