Meanwhile the night air seemed to become colder and colder, and though I walked fast I found it impossible to keep myself warm. My feet were like ice. I lost sensation in my hands, and grasped my gun mechanically. I even breathed with difficulty, as though, instead of traversing a quiet north country highway, I were scaling the uppermost heights of some gigantic Alp. This last symptom became presently so distressing, that I was forced to stop for a few minutes, and lean against the stone fence. As I did so, I chanced to look back up the road, and there, to my infinite relief, I saw a distant point of light, like the gleam of an approaching lantern. I at first concluded that Jacob had retraced his steps and followed me; but even as the conjecture presented itself, a second light flashed into sight – a light evidently parallel with the first, and approaching at the same rate of motion. It needed no second thought to show me that these must be the carriage-lamps of some private vehicle, though it seemed strange that any private vehicle should take a road professedly disused and dangerous.

      There could be no doubt, however, of the fact (однако сомневаться в этом факте было невозможно; doubt – сомнение), for the lamps grew larger and brighter every moment (так как фонари становились все больше и ярче с каждым мгновением), and I even fancied I could already see the dark outline of the carriage between them (и мне даже казалось, что я уже различаю темные очертания экипажа между ними; to fancy – воображать, представлять себе). It was coming up very fast, and quite noiselessly (он приближался очень быстро и совершенно бесшумно), the snow being nearly a foot deep under the wheels (так как снег под колесами был уже глубиной в фут).

      And now the body of the vehicle became distinctly visible behind the lamps (и теперь позади фонарей стал явственно виден экипаж: «корпус транспортного средства»; body – тело; корпус). It looked strangely lofty (он казался до странности большим; lofty – очень высокий). A sudden suspicion flashed upon me (внезапное подозрение осенило меня; flash – вспышка). Was it possible that I had passed the cross-roads in the dark without observing the sign-post (не могло ли случиться так: «было ли возможным», что я миновал в темноте перекресток, не заметив указатель), and could this be the very coach which I had come to meet (и /не/ был ли это тот самый дилижанс, который я встречал: «пришел встречать»)?

      No need to ask myself that question a second time (не было необходимости задавать себе этот вопрос второй раз), for here it came round the bend of the road (так как вот он уже появился из-за поворота дороги; here – здесь, тут; вот), guard and driver, one outside passenger, and four steaming greys (охранник и кучер, один пассажир, сидящий снаружи, и четыре серых /лошади/, от которых шел пар), all wrapped in a soft haze of light (все окутанные легкой светящейся дымкой; soft – мягкий; приглушенный; haze – легкий туман), through