Then a dog began to howl somewhere in a farmhouse far down the road—a long, agonised wailing, as if from fear. The sound was taken up by another dog, and then another and another, till, borne on the wind which now sighed softly through the Pass, a wild howling began, which seemed to come from all over the country, as far as the imagination could grasp it through the gloom of the night. At the first howl the horses began to strain and rear, but the driver spoke to them soothingly, and they quieted down, but shivered and sweated as though after a runaway from sudden fright.
Then, far off in the distance, (Тогда далеко в отдалении) from the mountains on each side of us (с гор по обе стороны от нас) began a louder and a sharper howling—that of wolves— (раздался более громкий и резкий вой — волчий вой; howling — завывание) which affected both the horses and myself in the same way (который подействовал одинаково и на лошадей, и на меня) —for I was minded to jump from the calèche and run, (потому что мне хотелось выпрыгнуть из калеши и бежать; minded — намеревался) whilst they reared again and plunged madly, (в то время как они снова вставали на дыбы и яростно метались; plunged — бросались) so that the driver had to use all his great strength to keep them from bolting. (так что кучеру пришлось использовать всю свою огромную силу, чтобы не дать им пуститься в бегство; bolting — понестись) In a few minutes, however, (Однако через несколько минут) my own ears got accustomed to the sound, (мои собственные уши привыкли к этому звуку; accustomed — привыкшие) and the horses so far became quiet (и лошади настолько успокоились) that the driver was able to descend and to stand before them. (что кучер смог спуститься и встать перед ними; descend — спуститься)
Then, far off in the distance, from the mountains on each side of us began a louder and a sharper howling—that of wolves—which affected both the horses and myself in the same way—for I was minded to jump from the calèche and run, whilst they reared again and plunged madly, so that the driver had to use all his great strength to keep them from bolting. In a few minutes, however, my own ears got accustomed to the sound, and the horses so far became quiet that the driver was able to descend and to stand before them.
He petted and soothed them, (Он погладил их и начал успокаивать; petted — приласкал, soothed — успокоил) and whispered something in their ears, (и прошептал что-то им на уши) as I have heard of horse-tamers doing, (как я слышал, делают укротители лошадей) and with extraordinary effect, (и с поразительным эффектом; extraordinary — необычный) for under his caresses they became quite manageable again, (потому что под его ласками они снова стали вполне послушными; manageable — управляемый) though they still trembled. (хотя всё ещё дрожали) The driver again took his seat, (Кучер снова занял своё место) and shaking his reins, (и, встряхнув поводья) started off at a great pace. (пустился в путь в стремительном темпе; great pace — быстрый ход) This time, after going to the far side of the Pass, (На этот раз, добравшись до дальней стороны Перевала; far side — дальняя сторона) he suddenly turned down a narrow roadway (он внезапно свернул на узкую дорогу) which ran sharply to the right. (которая резко уходила вправо; ran — тянулась)
He petted and soothed them, and whispered something in their ears, as I have heard of horse-tamers doing, and with extraordinary effect, for under his caresses they became quite manageable again, though they still trembled. The driver again took his seat, and shaking his reins, started off at a great pace. This time, after going to the far side of the Pass, he suddenly turned down a narrow roadway which ran sharply to the right.
Soon we were hemmed in with trees, (Вскоре нас со всех сторон окружили деревья; hemmed in — зажатые) which in places arched right over the roadway (которые местами образовывали над дорогой свод; arched — изгибаться дугой) till we passed as through a tunnel; (так что мы проезжали словно через туннель) and again great frowning rocks guarded us boldly on either side. (и снова огромные мрачные скалы смело сторожили нас по обеим сторонам; frowning rocks — «нахмуренные» скалы) Though we were in shelter, (Хотя мы были как бы под защитой) we could hear the rising wind, (мы слышали усиливающийся ветер) for it moaned and whistled through the rocks, (потому что он стонал и свистел среди скал; moaned — стонал) and the branches of the trees crashed together as we swept along. (и ветви деревьев сталкивались с треском, пока мы мчались вперёд; crashed together — сталкивались) It grew colder and colder still, (Становилось всё холоднее и холоднее) and fine, powdery snow began to fall, (и начал падать мелкий, порошащий снег; powdery — порошащий) so that soon we and all around us were covered with a white blanket. (так что вскоре мы и всё вокруг были покрыты белым покрывалом) The keen wind still carried the howling of the dogs, (Пронизывающий ветер всё ещё приносил вой собак; keen — пронизывающий) though this grew fainter as we went on our way. (хотя он становился слабее, пока мы продолжали путь; fainter — слабее) The baying of the wolves sounded nearer and nearer, (Рёв волков звучал всё ближе и ближе; baying — рёв/вой) as though they were closing round on us from every side. (словно они окружали нас со всех сторон) I grew dreadfully afraid, (Мне стало ужасно страшно) and the horses shared my fear. (и лошади разделяли мой страх) The driver, however, was not in the least disturbed; (Однако кучер ничуть не был обеспокоен) he kept turning his head to left and right, (он продолжал поворачивать голову влево и вправо) but I could not see anything through the darkness. (но я не мог ничего разглядеть в темноте)
Soon we were hemmed in with trees, which in places arched right over the roadway till we passed as through a tunnel; and again great frowning rocks guarded us boldly on either side. Though we were in shelter, we could hear the rising wind, for it moaned and whistled through the rocks, and the branches of the trees crashed together as we swept along. It grew colder and colder still, and fine, powdery snow began to fall, so that soon we and all around us were covered with a white blanket. The keen wind still carried the howling of the dogs, though this grew fainter as we went on our way. The baying of the wolves sounded nearer and nearer, as though they were closing round on us from every side. I grew dreadfully afraid, and the horses shared my fear. The driver, however, was not in the least disturbed; he kept turning his head to left and right, but I could not see anything through the darkness.
Suddenly, away on our left, (Вдруг, слева от нас) I saw a faint flickering blue flame. (я увидел слабое мерцающее синее пламя; flickering — мерцающий) The driver saw it at the same moment; (Кучер увидел его в тот же момент) he at once checked the horses, (он сразу же придержал лошадей; checked — осадил) and, jumping to the ground, (и, спрыгнув на землю) disappeared into the darkness. (скрылся во тьме) I did not know what to do, (Я не знал, что делать) the less as the howling of the wolves grew closer; (тем более что вой волков становился всё ближе) but while I wondered (но пока я размышлял) the driver suddenly appeared again, (кучер внезапно снова появился) and without a word took his seat, (и, не сказав ни слова, занял своё место) and we resumed our journey. (и мы продолжили путь; resumed — продолжили) I think I must have fallen asleep (Думаю, я, должно быть, задремал) and kept dreaming of the incident, (и всё время видел этот случай во сне; incident — происшествие) for it seemed to be repeated endlessly, (потому что казалось, будто он повторяется бесконечно) and now looking back, (и теперь, оглядываясь назад) it is like a sort of awful nightmare. (это похоже на какой-то ужасный кошмар; nightmare — кошмар)
Suddenly, away on our left, I saw a faint flickering blue flame. The driver saw it at the same moment; he at once checked the horses, and, jumping to the ground, disappeared into the darkness. I did not know what to do, the less as the howling of the wolves grew closer; but while I wondered the driver suddenly appeared again, and without a word took his seat, and we resumed our journey. I think I must have fallen asleep and kept dreaming of the incident, for it seemed to be repeated endlessly, and now looking back, it is like a sort of awful nightmare.
Once the flame appeared so near the road, (Однажды пламя появилось так близко к дороге) that even in the darkness around us (что даже в окружающей нас темноте) I could watch the driver’s motions. (я мог наблюдать движения кучера) He went rapidly to where the blue flame arose (Он быстро подошёл туда, где поднималось синее пламя) —it must have been very faint, (— оно, должно быть, было очень слабым) for it did not seem to illumine the place around it at all— (потому что оно, казалось, вовсе не освещало место вокруг себя; illumine — освещать) and gathering a few stones, (и, собрав несколько камней) formed them into some device. (сложил их в какую-то фигуру; device — узор, знак) Once there appeared a strange optical effect: (Однажды возник странный оптический эффект) when he stood between me and the flame (когда он стоял между мной и пламенем) he did not obstruct it, (он не заслонял его) for I could see its ghostly flicker all the same. (потому что я всё равно видел его призрачное мерцание; ghostly flicker — призрачное мерцание) This startled me, (Это меня испугало) but as the effect was only momentary, (но так как эффект был лишь мгновенным) I took it that my eyes deceived me (я решил, что мои глаза обманули меня) straining through the darkness. (напрягаясь сквозь темноту; straining — напрягаясь) Then for a time there were no blue flames, (Затем какое-то время никаких синих огней не было) and we sped onwards through the gloom, (и мы мчались дальше сквозь мрак; sped — мчались) with the howling of the wolves around us, (под вой волков вокруг нас) as though they were following in a moving circle. (словно они следовали за нами движущимся кольцом)
