They had placed his service cap in the box with him and had unbuckled his cartridge belt so that he would rest more comfortably.

What did all this mean?
For the hundredth time he asked himself the question.
Returning footsteps interrupted his thoughts.

The cabin door opened, people entered, again he heard whispering voices.
He strained his ears.

At first he could have sworn that he heard the soft, low tones of a woman's voice, but they were not repeated.

Hands caught hold of the box, dragged it across the floor, and then he felt himself lifted bodily, and, after a dozen steps, placed carefully upon some object in the snow.