Possible Clues:

• Up there takes off a skin, unconsciously
• Unconscious
• Out of it
• Having dropped off, like covering to be put back
• Captivated by snake, Laurie became hypnotised
• Skins up a one that's unconscious
• Gone out for the night in this state after counting the sheep
• Not conscious that one removes up a skin
• Snake found around river is dead to the world
• Please (anag)