I was almost choked. But the girl showed no con cern at all for me. Stretching her neck outside the window, she looked straight ahead the direction the train was going. If the coach had not quickly grown light again, the fresh air had not flown in to drive the choking smoke, I would certainly have scolded her sharply to make her close the window.
Now, however, the train had glided out of the tunnel and was nearing a small crossing on the outskirts of a town. Near the crossing stood a dirty cluster of straw thatched huts and tile-roofed cottages. At this bleak crossing appeared three ruddy cheeked little boys, standing closely side by side. They were all short, as though com pressed against the cloudy sky.