The fact that the guard watched him and was apparently astonished, pleased him as a propagandist of the Mueller system; and although he knew that he would get no answer he nevertheless spoke to the eye staring in the little window: "It's a good system, my friend, it braces you up.

It should be introduced in your regiment," he shouted convincingly and kindly, so as not to frighten the soldier, not suspecting that the guard considered him a harmless lunatic.
The fear of death came over him gradually.

It was as if somebody were striking his heart a powerful blow with the fist from below.

This sensation was rather painful than terrible.

Then the sensation was forgotten, but it returned again a few hours later, and each time it grew more intense and of longer duration, and thus it began to assume vague outlines of some great, even unbearable fear.
"Is it possible that I am afraid ?" thought Sergey in astonishment.