Rostov went to the middle of the room and looking through the open doors into the two adjoining rooms saw the same thing there.

He stood still, looking silently around.

He had not at all expected such a sight.

Just before him, almost across the middle of the passage on the bare floor, lay a sick man, probably a Cossack to judge by the cut of his hair.

The man lay on his back, his huge arms and legs outstretched.