One good spring, another, and then a third, and at last the horse had found its way out of the drift, and stood there, breathing heavily and shaking in every limb. Nikita would have led him on further, but Vasily Andreich in his double set of furs had got so winded that he could not go any further, and fell back into the sledge.
"Give me time to breathe," said he, untying his kerchief, which he had fastened round the collar of his fur cloak in the village.
"There's no need for you to do anything, you lie where you are," said Nikita, "I'll lead him along." And with Vasily Andreich in the sledge he led the horse by the bridle some two steps downwards, and then a little way upwards, and stood still.
The place where Nikita had stopped was not in the hollow; here and there were some patches of snow, but it was partially protected from the wind by the hill. There were moments when the wind behind the hill dropped for a bit, but this did not last long, and as if to indenmify itself for this respite, the wind immediately afterwards blew down with tenfold force, and raged and tore more evilly than ever. Just such an onslaught of the wind took place at the very moment when Vasily Andreich, having recovered his breath, had got out of the sledge, and was going to Nikita in order to consult with him what was to be done. Both of them instinctively bent down, and waited till the fury of the assault had passed over before they spoke. Brownie also involuntarily pressed down his ears and shook his head. No sooner had the gale abated somewhat, than Nikita,
46
