"Tolstoy, Leo - How Much Land Does A Man Need" - читать интересную книгу автора (Tolstoy Leo)

another to make it more visible. Then he went on; and now that he had
walked off his stiffness he quickened his pace. After a while he dug
another hole.

Pakhom looked back. The hillock could be distinctly seen in the sunlight,
with the people on it, and the glittering tyres of the cartwheels. At a
rough guess Pakhom concluded that he had walked three miles. It was growing
warmer; he took off his under-coat, flung it across his shoulder, and went
on again. It had grown quite warm now; he looked at the sun, it was time to
think of breakfast.

"The first shift is done, but there are four in a day, and it is too soon
yet to turn. But I will just take off my boots," said he to himself.

He sat down, took off his boots, stuck them into his girdle, and went on.
It was easy walking now.

"I will go on for another three miles," thought he, "and then turn to the
left. This spot is so fine, that it would be a pity to lose it. The further
one goes the better the land seems."

He went straight on for a while, and when he looked round, the hillock was
scarcely visible and the people on it looked like black ants, and he could
just see something glistening there in the sun.

"Ah," thought Pakhom, "I have gone far enough in this direction, it is time
to turn. Besides I am in a regular sweat, and very thirsty."

He stopped, dug a large hole, and heaped up pieces of turf. Next he untied
his flask, had a drink, and then turned sharply to the left. He went on and
on; the grass was high, and it was very hot.

Pakhom began to grow tired: he looked at the sun and saw that it was noon.

"Well," he thought, "I must have a rest."

He sat down, and ate some bread and drank some water; but he did not lie
down, thinking that if he did he might fall asleep. After sitting a little
while, he went on again. At first he walked easily: the food had
strengthened him; but it had become terribly hot and he felt sleepy, still
he went on, thinking: "An hour to suffer, a life-time to live."

He went a long way in this direction also, and was about to turn to the
left again, when he perceived a damp hollow: "It would be a pity to leave
that out," he thought. "Flax would do well there." So he went on past the
hollow, and dug a hole on the other side of it before he turned the corner.
Pakhom looked towards the hillock. The heat had made the air hazy: it
seemed to be quivering, and through the haze the people on the hillock
could scarcely be seen.