Question

here the breeze was fitful and allowed the strings of the parachute to tangle and festoon; and the figure sat, its helmeted head between its knees, held by a complication of lines. when the breeze blew, the lines would strain taut and some accident of this pull lifted the head and chest upright so that the figure seemed to peer across the brow of the mountain. then, each time the wind dropped, the lines would slacken and the figure bow forward again, sinking its head between its knees. so as the stars moved across the sky, the figure sat on the mountain - top and bowed and sank and bowed again. how is the dead parachuter described?

Explanation:

The text uses vivid imagery. Words like "helmeted head between its knees", "held by a complication of lines", "bowed forward again, sinking its head between its knees" create a picture of the dead parachuter. The description of the lines straining taut when the breeze blew and slackening when the wind dropped, making the figure seem to move (lift head/chest upright then bow) gives a sense of the parachuter's position and the effect of the wind on the parachute strings.

Answer:

The dead parachuter is described as having its helmeted head between its knees, held by tangled parachute strings. When the breeze blows, the strings strain taut and the head and chest lift upright as if peering; when the wind drops, the strings slacken and the figure bows forward again with its head between its knees. This creates a repetitive motion (bowing, sinking, bowing) as the stars move across the sky.