Етюд у багряних тонах

On the great Alkali Plain.

           Hisfacewasleanandhaggard,andthebrownparchment-likeskinwasdrawntightlyovertheprojectingbones;hislong,brownhairandbeardwereallfleckedanddashedwithwhite;hiseyesweresunkeninhishead,andburnedwithanunnaturallustre;whilethehandwhichgraspedhisriflewashardlymorefleshythanthatofaskeleton. Ashestood,heleaneduponhisweaponforsupport,andyethistallfigureandthemassiveframeworkofhisbonessuggestedawiryandvigorousconstitution. Hisgauntface,however,andhisclothes,whichhungsobaggilyoverhisshrivelledlimbs,proclaimedwhatitwasthatgavehimthatsenileanddecrepitappearance. Themanwasdyingdyingfromhungerandfromthirst. 

           Hehadtoiledpainfullydowntheravine,andontothislittleelevation,inthevainhopeofseeingsomesignsofwater. Nowthegreatsaltplainstretchedbeforehiseyes,andthedistantbeltofsavagemountains,withoutasignanywhereofplantortree,whichmightindicatethepresenceofmoisture. Inallthatbroadlandscapetherewasnogleamofhope. North,andeast,andwesthelookedwithwildquestioningeyes,andthenherealisedthathiswanderingshadcometoanend,andthatthere,onthatbarrencrag,hewasabouttodie. “Whynothere,aswellasinafeatherbed,twentyyearshence,”hemuttered,asheseatedhimselfintheshelterofaboulder. 

           Beforesittingdown,hehaddepositeduponthegroundhisuselessrifle,andalsoalargebundletiedupinagreyshawl,whichhehadcarriedslungoverhisrightshoulder. 

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Roboto Lora
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