Page:Chekhov - The Witch and Other Stories.djvu/168

Rh "I should like to give that fat fellow one in the neck," thought Gusev, gazing at the stout Chinaman, with a yawn.

He dozed off, and it seemed to him that all nature was dozing, too. Time flew swiftly by; imperceptibly the day passed, imperceptibly the darkness came on. The steamer was no longer standing still, but moving on further.

Two days passed, Pavel Ivanitch lay down instead of sitting up; his eyes were closed, his nose seemed to have grown sharper.

"Pavel Ivanitch," Gusev called to him. "Hey, Pavel Ivanitch."

Pavel Ivanitch opened his eyes and moved his lips.

"Are you feeling bad?"

"No it's nothing . . answered Pavel Ivanitch, gasping. "Nothing; on the contrary  I am rather better. You see I can lie down. I am a little easier. "

"Well, thank God for that, Pavel Ivanitch."

"When I compare myself with you I am sorry for you poor fellow. My lungs are all right, it is only a stomach cough.  I can stand hell, let alone the Red Sea. Besides I take a critical attitude to my illness and to the medicines they give me for it. While you  you are in darkness.  It's hard for you, very, very hard!"

The ship was not rolling, it was calm, but as hot