"I have slept a long while!" said Taras, coming to his senses, as if after a heavy drunken sleep, and trying to distinguish the objects about him.

A terrible weakness overpowered his limbs.

The walls and corners of a strange room were dimly visible before him.

At length he perceived that Tovkatch was seated beside him, apparently listening to his every breath.
"Yes," thought Tovkatch, "you might have slept forever." But he said nothing, only shook his finger, and motioned him to be silent.
"But tell me where I am now ?" asked Taras, straining his mind, and trying to recollect what had taken place.
"Be silent!" cried his companion sternly.

"Why should you want to know?
Don't you see that you are all hacked to pieces?
Here I have been galloping with you for two weeks without taking a breath; and you have been burnt up with fever and talking nonsense.