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100

Thanks to the tall, rough, but more kindly inclined companion, the poor girl had escaped from any misfortune!

IV.

During this time the sand was coming into the mouth of Niemoviecki, and crackled between his teeth. But what he first perceived after recovering his senses was a strong and refreshing smell of earth. His head was heavy, as if filled with lead, he could not move it, and the whole of his body was sore, but especially his back. No bones were broken. Niemoviecki sat down, and for a long while looked upwards without either thinking or recollecting anything. High above him swung a berth with wide, black leaves, through which pierced the fading sun. Clouds were gliding through the sky, no rain fell, and therefore the air was dry